Most question particles occur in sentence-initial (or enclitic to the initial constituent) or in sentence-final position. Question particles almost always occur finally in SOV languages and show a greater tendency to occur initially in other types.
Standardized
IF basic word order is SOV, THEN question particles almost always occur sentence finally. IF basic word order is not SOV, THEN question particles show a greater tendency than with basic order SOV to occur sentence initially.
1. See also ##495, 491. #491 can be derived by transitivity from ##671, 495.2. Dryer 1992: 102 confirms this universal on the basis of 543-language sample.
1. See also ##495, 491. #491 can be derived by transitivity from ##671, 495.2. Dryer 1992: 102 confirms this universal on the basis of 543-language sample.