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Universal 235: numeral &, V quantifier ⇒ preposition ⇒ adjective ⇒ noun & verb

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 235: numeral &, V quantifier ⇒ preposition ⇒ adjective ⇒ noun & verb

Original
In phases of inflectional reduction and expansion of the fund of function words, if there are numerals and/or quantifiers, there are also prepositions; if there are prepositions, there are also adjectives; and if there are adjectives, there are also nouns and (personal) verbs.
Standardized
In phases of inflectional reduction and expansion of the fund of function words, IF there are numerals and/or quantifiers, THEN there are also prepositions; IF there are prepositions, THEN there are also adjectives; and IF there are adjectives, THEN there are also nouns and (personal) verbs.
Keywords
word class, numeral, quantifier, preposition, adjective, noun, verb
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
diachronic (see Comments)
Quality
absolute
Basis
Ancient and Modern Greek (both Greek), French, Italian, Latin (all Italic), English, “Gothic” (both Germanic), Classical Armenian (Armenian, all IE), Hebrew (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic)
Source
Smith 1761 [1983], as interpreted in Plank 1992: 43
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    Is actually not a developmental law, but a universal implication, holding only for (all) languages at a particular stage of their evolution.

    1. May 2020

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