Universal 1551: verb-initial ⇒ deletion V personal pronoun in positions relativized
Original
In verb-initial languages, occurrence of personal pronouns in positions relativized is fairly common, though relativization by deletion is still the most common strategy.
Standardized
IF word order is verb-initial, THEN relativization is primarily by deletion; the next most common strategy being the use of personal pronouns in positions relativized.
Keywords
order, verb-initial, relative clause, personal pronoun
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
unknown
Source
unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D.Payne 1990: 14
1. Cf. Downing’s statement for VSO languages (#677): With few exceptions, postnominal relative clauses in VSO languages contain either (a) an initial relative particle or pronoun or (b) a special marker on the main verb of the clause.2. For verb-initial languages (#1554) Keenan claims the dominant postnominal order of relative clauses. Elsewhere (1985b: 154) he argues that “[t]he use of personal pronouns and to a slightly lesser extent relative pronouns is very common in postnominal relative clauses”. These two statements can be combined by transitivity: verb-initial => NRel => personal pronouns in position relativized are common OR verb-initial => personal pronouns in position relativized are common; from which follows: verb initial => personal pronouns in position relativized are commonly used, which fits in with the claim in #1555. 3. Cf. #1556, 1566.
1. Cf. Downing’s statement for VSO languages (#677): With few exceptions, postnominal relative clauses in VSO languages contain either (a) an initial relative particle or pronoun or (b) a special marker on the main verb of the clause.2. For verb-initial languages (#1554) Keenan claims the dominant postnominal order of relative clauses. Elsewhere (1985b: 154) he argues that “[t]he use of personal pronouns and to a slightly lesser extent relative pronouns is very common in postnominal relative clauses”. These two statements can be combined by transitivity: verb-initial => NRel => personal pronouns in position relativized are common OR verb-initial => personal pronouns in position relativized are common; from which follows: verb initial => personal pronouns in position relativized are commonly used, which fits in with the claim in #1555. 3. Cf. #1556, 1566.