Universal 1875:

Universal 1875:

Original

Frequency hierarchy for the cross-linguistic coding of subordination:
elimination of tense/aspect/mood >> elimination of agreement distinctions, omission of verb arguments >> case/adposition marking on the verb >> coding of verb arguments as possessor or obliques.

Standardized

Frequency hierarchy for the coding of subordination vis-a-vis that of non-subordinate clauses:
elimination of tense/aspect/mood >> elimination of agreement distinctions, omission of verb arguments >> case/adposition marking on the verb >> coding of verb arguments as possessor or obliques.

Keywords

clause combining, subordination, tense, aspect, mood, agreement, case, adposition, possessor, oblique

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

implicational hierarchy

Status

achronic

Quality

statistical

Basis

Acehnese (W Malayo-Polynesian), Ainu (isolate), Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo), Arabic (Gulf) (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic), Arapesh (Torricelli), Banda Linda (Adamawa-Ubangi, Niger-Congo), Barasano (Tucanoan), Basque (isolate), Berbice Dutch Creole, Borana (Cushitic, Afro-Asiatic), Burushaski (isolate), Canela-Krahô (Ge), Mandarin Chinese (Sino-Tibetan), Diegueño (Hokan), Djapu (?), Ancient Egyptian (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic), Finnish (Finno-Ugric, Uralic), Fula (Atlantic, Niger-Congo), Gimira (Omotic, Afro-Asiatic), Classical Greek (Greek, IE), West Greenlandic (Eskimo, Eskimo-Aleut), Gumbaynggir, Guugu Yimidhirr (both Pama-Nyungan), Hixkaryana (Carib), Hittite (Anatolian, Indo-Hittite), Hmong Njua (Hmong Mien), Ho (Munda), Hurrian (isolate), Italian (Romance, IE), Jacaltec (Mayan), Kanuri (Saharan, Nilo-Saharan), Karimojong (Eastern Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan), Kayardild (Pama-Nyungan), Khasi (Mon-Khmer), Kobon (Trans-New Guinea), Kolokumi (Ijoid, Niger-Congo), Krongo (Kordofanian, Niger-Congo), Lango (Nilotic, Nilo-Saharan), Lezgian (NE Caucasian), Limbu (Tibeto-Burman), Makian (West) (West Papuan), Manarayi (Gunwingguan, Australian), Maori (Oceanic, E Malayo-Polynesian), Maricopa (Hokan), Muna (Sulawesi, W Malayo-Polynesian), Nama (Khoisan), Nandi (Bantu, Niger-Congo), Ngbaka (Adamawa-Ubangi, Niger-Congo), Nung (Tibeto-Burman), Piwan (Formosan, Austronesian), Paumarí (Arauan), Pero (Chadic, Afro-Asiatic), Pirahã (Mura), Punjabi (Indo-Aryan, IE), Huallaga Quechua (Andean), Resigaro (Arawak), Retuarã (Tucanoan), Sawu (Malayo-Polynesian), Shipibo-Conibo (Panoan), Shoshone (Tümpisa Panamint) (Uto-Aztecan), Slave (Na-Dene), Songhay (Nilo-Saharan), Sumerian (isolate), Supyire (Gur, Niger-Congo), Tagalog (W Malayo-Polynesian), Tamazight (Berber, Afro-Asiatic), Tamil (Dravidian), Tanghkul Naga (Tibeeto-Burman), Tarascan (isolate), Tok Pisin (English based, Creole), Turkish (Turkic, Altaic), Tzutujil (Mayan), Ute (Uto-Aztecan), Vai (Mande, Niger-Congo), Vietnamese (Mon-Khmer), Wargamay (Pama-Nyungan), Wayapi (Tupi), Yidi (Pama-Nyungan), Yoruba (Benue-Congo, Niger-Congo)

Source

Cristofaro 2000

Counterexamples