Universal 279: zero person marker (indicative mood) ⇒ 1Sg v 3Sg

Universal 279: zero person marker (indicative mood) ⇒ 1Sg v 3Sg

Original

If a zero expression occurs in the form of a certain person in the indicative mood, then, included in the meanings thus expressed (i.e. by a zero mark) we find the meaning of the 3rd person or that of the 1st person.

Standardized

IF any person has zero expression in the indicative mood, THEN it will be 3rd person singular or 1st person singular.

Keywords

verb, mood, indicative, person, 1, 3, number, singular, zero, markedness

Domain

inflection

Type

no genuine implication; rather: provided that

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute?

Basis

unspecified

Source

Uspensky 1968: 14 [Uspensky 1972: 68]; Vardul’ 1969, referring to Uspensky

Counterexamples

Standard English which has verb inflection with non-zero exponent for 3rd person singular, but zero with all other persons