Universal 1550: verb-initial ⇒ N Rel

Universal 1550: verb-initial ⇒ N Rel

Original

In verb-initial languages the dominant order of relative clauses is always postnominal.

Standardized

IF word order is verb-initial, THEN the relative clause is postnominal.

Keywords

order, verb-initial, relative clause

Domain

syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

unknown

Source

unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D.Payne 1990: 14

Counterexamples