Universal 214: fixed-case (comparative) ⇒ deranking
- Original
- If a language has a fixed-case comparative, then that language is deranking.
- Standardized
- IF there is a fixed-case comparative, THEN clause-combining is deranking.
- Keywords
- comparative, case, clause-combining, deranking
- Domain
- inflection, syntax
- Type
- implication
- Status
- achronic
- Quality
- absolute
- Basis
- sample of 110 languages
- Source
- Stassen 1985: 106 (Univ. 1B)
- Counterexamples
1. With regard to the encoding of the standard NP in comparatives, DERIVED-CASE comparatives and FIXED-CASE comparatives are distinguished. In fixed-case comparatives, the case assignment to the standard NP is independent of the case assignment to the comparee NP; i.e. these constructions put the standard NP into one and the same oblique case form in all instances of comparison.2. deranking: only one of the predicates in the chain retains its finite verb form, whereas the other predicate is represented as a subordinate, usually non-finite verbal construct.Languages of this type are deranking languages, and its clause combinartions are deranked constructions.3. For detailed predictions see ##988-992.