Universal 497: VSO => initial interrogative word;
SOV ⇒ ¬initial interrogative word

Universal 497: VSO => initial interrogative word;
SOV ⇒ ¬initial interrogative word

Original

If a language has dominant order VSO in declarative sentences, it always puts interrogative words or phrases first in interrogative word questions; if it has dominant order SOV in declarative sentences, there is never such an invariant rule.

Standardized

IF basic order in declarative sentences is VSO, THEN interrogative words or phrases always occupy the first position in interrogative word questions.

IF basic order is SOV, THEN there is never such an invariant rule.

Keywords

order, sentence type, interrogative, interrogative word, VSO, SOV, wh-movement

Domain

syntax

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute (for Greenberg), statistical (for Ultan)

Basis

30 languages of Greenberg 1963 sample

Source

Greenberg 1963: 83, #12, Ultan 1978c: 231

Counterexamples

For the first part: Samoan (Remote Oceanic, E. Malayo-Polynesian, Austronesian), Sango (Benue-Congo, Niger-Congo) (Ultan 1978c: 231).For the second part: Yaqui, Huichol (both Uto-Aztecan), Isthmus Mixe, Chimalapa Zoque (both Mixe-Zoquean) are SOV languages, but they do front the question words (Pickett 1983: 539).