Universal 1552:

Universal 1552:

Original

In verb-initial and verb-final languages, but not in verb-medial ones, relative pronouns which code the case of the position relativized are rare. In verb-initial languages it is less rare than in verb-final languages, however.

Standardized

IF word order is verb-initial or verb-final, THEN relative pronouns which code the case of the position relativized are rare.

IF word order is verb-medial, THEN relative pronouns which code the case of the position relativized are less rare than if word order is verb-final.

Keywords

order, verb-initial, verb-final, verb-medial, relative clause, relative pronoun, case

Domain

syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

statistical

Basis

unknown

Source

unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D.Payne 1990: 14

Counterexamples