Universal 260: ergative language ⇒ prefix-suffixal personal conjugation

Universal 260: ergative language ⇒ prefix-suffixal personal conjugation

Original

In ergative languages personal conjugation is of prefixal or prefix-suffixal nature.

Standardized

IF alignment is predominantly ergative, THEN verbal person marking is by prefixes or by both prefixes and suffixes.

Keywords

alignment, ergative, verb, inflection, person, prefix, suffix

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

statistical

Basis

different language families in Klimov 1973

Source

Klimov 1973: 99

Counterexamples

The so-called suffixal languages of Australia