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Universal 155:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 155:

Original
Overt marking in the unitransitive clause implies overt dative marking. Any suspension of dative marking implies suspension of object marking; the restriction on object marking will be equal to or greater than the restrictions on dative marking, so if dative marking is suspended in some cases (as in Jivaro), object marking is suspended in at least those same cases.
Standardized
IF there is overt marking of the direct object in the unitransitive clause, THEN there is overt marking of the indirect object (dative).
IF indirect object (dative) marking is suspended in some cases, THEN direct object marking is suspended in at least those same cases.
Keywords
transitivity, direct object, indirect object, accusative, dative
Domain
inflection, syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
languages surveyed in Blansitt 1988
Source
Blansitt 1988: 186 (ii)
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP
    1. May 2020

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