Universal 245: free order ⇒ inflection (nominal);
rigid order ⇒ ¬ inflection (nominal)

Universal 245: free order ⇒ inflection (nominal);
rigid order ⇒ ¬ inflection (nominal)

Original

If constituent order is free without limits, then nominal words are inflected, but not vice versa; if constituent order is rigid without inversions, then there is no nominal inflection, but again not vice versa.

Standardized

IF constituent order is free without limits, THEN nominal words are inflected, but not vice versa; IF constituent order is rigid without inversions, THEN there is no nominal inflection, but not vice versa.

Keywords

order, noun

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, Breton, Gaelic, English, German, Swedish, Ancient Greek, Polish (all Indo-European), Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew (all Semitic, Afro-Asiatic), Saami (Uralic), Chinese (Sino-Tibetan), Quechua (Andean)

Source

Beauzée 1767, as interpreted in Plank 1999: 20

Counterexamples