Universal 423: Prep ⇒ (¬ SOV ⇒ N Rel)

Universal 423: Prep ⇒ (¬ SOV ⇒ N Rel)

Original

If a language has Prep word order, then if the verb position is not SOV, the relative clause follows the noun.

Standardized

If there are prepositions, THEN IF basic order is not SOV, THEN the relative clause follows the noun.

Keywords

preposition, order, relative clause, noun

Domain

syntax

Type

nested implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

sample of 350 languages in Hawkins 1983

Source

Hawkins 1979: 629; Hawkins 1983: 74

Counterexamples

Asia Minor Greek is prepositional, VSO/SVO (i.e. non-SOV), but has RelN order (Campbell et al. 1988: 215).