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Universal 1553: verb-initial ⇒ Modal Verb, Aux Verb, Neg Verb, Desiderative Verb, Volition Verb

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Universal 1553: verb-initial ⇒ Modal Verb, Aux Verb, Neg Verb, Desiderative Verb, Volition Verb

Original
In verb-initial languages, if expressed by morphemically independent forms, modals, auxiliaries (if such exist), negative particles or words, desideratives and volitionals always precede the main verb, and may themselves have independent vebal morphology.
Standardized
IF word order is verb-initial, THEN modals, auxiliaries (if such exist), negative particles or words, desideratives and volitionals, if expressed by separate words, always precede the main verb.
Keywords
order, verb-initial, modal, auxiliary, negation, desiderative, volition
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
unknown
Source
unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D.Payne 1990: 14
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1.The strength of the order correlation is greater than its converse for verb-final languages. 2. Cf. Greenberg’s and Dryer’s claim for VSO-languages (#503): VSO => Aux V.and for VO-languages (#502): IF the order is VO, THEN, in expressions of volition and purpose, the main verb precedes the subordinate verb. 3. Cf. a correlation of Steele’s (#1386): No language with SVO or VSO basic order will have a clause final auxiliary (i.e. If basic word order is SVO or VSO, then auxiliary is clause medial or clause initial). 4. Cf. Dryer’s claim (#444): IF basic order is verb-initial, THEN the negative precedes the verb.

    1. May 2020

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