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Universal 578:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 578:

Original
If stacked targets (such as attributive adjective and a determiner) may differ in agreeing on a referential-semantic or a syntactic basis, the target further from the controller is likelier than the one closer to it to agree on a semantic basis.
Standardized
IF stacked targets (such as attributive adjective and a determiner) may differ in agreeing on a referential-semantic or a syntactic basis, THEN the target further from the controller is likelier than the one closer to it to agree on a semantic basis.
Keywords
agreement, attribution, adjective, determiner
Domain
inflection, syntax, semantics
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
languages in Corbett 1988
Source
Corbett 1988: 49, Plank 1991c: 539 (review)
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    Not clear whether a proposed universal or intended as valid only for Slavonic languages (Plank 1991c).Can be restated implicationally.

    1. May 2020

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