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Universal 1390:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1390:

Original
In retrospective languages obligatory occurrence of past tense implies the same for future tense, the converse holding for prospective languages.
Standardized
In retrospective languages, IF there is past tense, THEN there will be future tense.
In prospective languages, IF there is future tense, THEN there will be past tense.
Keywords
tense, past, future
Domain
inflection, syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
sample of 50 languages in Ultan 1972, Ultan 1978a
Source
Ultan 1972, Ultan 1978a: 94
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    If a present tense may ordinarily mark a Moment of speech (MOS) future or if the latter may be unmarked, the system is prospective.If a present tense may ordinarily mark a MOS past or if the latter may be unmarked, the system is retrospective.

    1. May 2020

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