Universal 1629:

Universal 1629:

Original

If the language has the basic order “focus-before-topic”, then the secondary topic would follow the focus.
Correspondingly, in languages where object precedes subject, causee, recipient, and benefactive follow the patient in double object constructions.

Standardized

IF basic order is Focus-before-Topic, THEN the secondary topic will follow the focus.

Correspondingly:
IF object precedes subject in a basic word order, THEN causee, recipient, and benefactive [being secondary topics] follow the patient in double object constructions.

Keywords

order, VOS, OVS, OSV, topic, focus, secondary topic, causee, recipient, benefactive, patient

Domain

syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

Object before Subject languages: VOS: Tzotzil (Mayan), Malagasy (Malayo-Polynesian), OVS: Hixkaryana (Carib), Pari (Nilotic, Nilo-Saharan), OSV: Hurrian (isolate), Kabardian (North Caucasian); Subject before Object languages: SOV: Tamil (Dravidian), Korean (Altaic), SVO: Kinyarwanda (Bantu, Niger-Congo), Dutch [in the main clause](Germanic, IE), VSO: Biblical Hebrew (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic)

Source

Polinsky 1995: 190-191

Counterexamples