Universal 1512: OS ⇒ #V

Original: Subject-final languages are always verb-initial.
Standardized: IF full noun phrase subjects must follow full noun phrase direct objects, THEN the verb is initial.
Keywords: order, verb-initial, subject, object
Domain: syntax
Type: implication
Status: achronic
Quality: absolute
Basis: Malagasy, Batak [Toba Dialect], Fijian, Gilbertese (all Malay-Polynesian), Tzeltal (Mayan), Otomi (Oto-Manguean), Ineseño Chumash (Hokan), Baure (Arawakan), Tzotzil, Kekchi (both Mayan), Tsou (Formosan, Austronesian), although the last three languages are not surveyed in the paper
Source: Keenan 1978b: 285, G-1

Counterexamples: This universal allows VOS languages and rules out OSV and OVS orders. OSV languages:Apurinã (Arawakan), Nadëb (Makú), Urubú (Tupi), Xavante (Gê) (Derbyshire & Pullum 1981); Kabardian (North Caucasian), Hurrian (isolate) (Polinskaja 1987: 89, 1989). OVS languages: Apalaí, Arekuna-Taupilang, Bacairí, Hianacoto-Umaua, Hixkaryana, Makushi, Panare (all Carib), Asuriní (Kariri-Tupi) (Derbyshire 1977, Derbyshire & Pullum 1981); Wajana (Carib) (Howell 1982); Barasano (Tucanoan) (Pullum 1981); Coos (Coosan) (Greenberg 1963: 110)

Search Universals Archive

One Comment

FP

1. In SUBJECT-FINAL languages, full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct obejcts in the pragmatically less marked sentence types (which contain both subjects and direct objects) of the language. Sentences which are PRAGMATICALLY LESS MARKED place the fewest restrictions on their contexts of appropriate use. Accordnig to Keenan, subject-final languages normally occur in linguistic phyla in which verb-initial languages are common (1978b: 286, G-2).2. Cf. statements by Greenberg and Pullum: ##490, 1187.

1. May 2020

Comments are closed.