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Universal 190: locative > allative > ablative > prolative

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Universal 190: locative > allative > ablative > prolative

Original
If only some locational relations are expressed in a case system, they will always include simple location. Next most likely will be allative, then ablative, then prolative.
Standardized
IF there is a prolative case, THEN there will be an ablative case.
IF there is an ablative case, THEN there will be an allative case.
IF there is an allative case, THEN there will be a locative case.
Keywords
case system, local case, locative, allative, ablative, prolative
Domain
inflection
Type
implication
Status
achronic but presumably diachronically motivated
Quality
absolute
Basis
languages mentioned in Kilby 1983, Stolz 1992
Source
Kilby 1983: 55; Stolz 1992: 83-85 (same hierarchy without prolative)
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. Kilby 1983: 55: “Note that this does not imply that a system in which only two cases express locational concepts will necessarily have a locative and an allative case: two relations may be expressed in a single form. In Manchu (Tungus, Altaic), for instance, one case expresses locative and allative, and another expresses ablative.”2. For Stolz this hierarchy contradicts the Finno-Ugric theory of Ablative > Locative > Allative, see also # 191, 1225, 1227, 1128.

    1. May 2020

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