Universal 269:

Original: If in a language there is a special distinction of animate and inanimate (personal and non-personal) nouns connected with a regular syncretism in the expression of these categories, then it is always the expression of the inanimate (non-personal) that is connected with the syncretism of forms.
Standardized: When nouns are distinguished as animate/personal and inanimate/impersonal and there is some (non-accidental) syncretism of this opposition, animate/personal forms will win out.
Keywords: animacy, noun, syncretism
Domain: inflection, syntax
Type: no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status: achronic
Quality: absolute
Basis: unspecified
Source: Uspensky 1968: 14 [Uspensky 1972: 68]; see Vardul’ 1969, referring to Uspensky

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