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Universal 1944:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1944:

Original
When three-degree systems of demonstratives where proximal/medial/distal correspond to 1st/2nd/3rd person develop into two-degree systems, the opposition will be proximal&medial vs. distal or proximal vs. medial&distal, corresponding to 1st&2nd vs. 3rd person or 1st vs. 2nd&3rd person. There will never be a two-degree demonstrative system with a correspondence to a person system where the opposition is 1st/3rd vs. 2nd person.
Standardized
When three-degree systems of demonstratives where proximal/medial/distal correspond to 1st/2nd/3rd person develop into two-degree systems, the opposition will be proximal&medial vs. distal or proximal vs. medial&distal, corresponding to 1st&2nd vs. 3rd person or 1st vs. 2nd&3rd person. There will never be a two-degree demonstrative system with a correspondence to a person system where the opposition is 1st/3rd vs. 2nd person.
Keywords
demonstrative, proximal, medial, distal, person, 1, 2, 3
Domain
lexicon
Type
unconditional
Status
diachronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
unspecified
Source
Greenberg 1993: 11-12
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    Cf. #1951.

    1. May 2020

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