All subject-final languages present morphemically independent subordinate conjunctions which precede a finite clause.
Standardized
IF subject full noun phrases follow object full noun phrases, THEN there will be morphemically independent subordinate conjunctions which precede a finite clause.
Keywords
order, subject, object, subordinate conjunction
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
Malagasy, Batak [Toba Dialect], Fijian, Gilbertese (all Malayo-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
1. By SUBJECT-FINAL languages Keenan means any language in which full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct objects 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. 2. The significance of this universal is considerably weakend by the fact that a subordinate conjunction plus a finite subordinate clause is not a dominant way of expressing subordination in the Amerindian languages in Keenan’s sample.
1. By SUBJECT-FINAL languages Keenan means any language in which full noun phrase subjects must follow noun phrase direct objects 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. 2. The significance of this universal is considerably weakend by the fact that a subordinate conjunction plus a finite subordinate clause is not a dominant way of expressing subordination in the Amerindian languages in Keenan’s sample.