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Universal 737:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 737:

Original
The Human Propensity Universal:
In a split-adjective language, human-propensity predicates will be encoded by the verbal strategy.
Standardized
IF there is a nominal-verbal split in encoding property concepts, THEN Human Propensity predicates will be encoded by the verbal strategy.
Keywords
word class, adjective, verb, noun, property concepts, human propensity
Domain
inflection, syntax, semantics
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute?
Basis
sample of 410 languages in Stassen 1997
Source
Stassen 1997: 5.2
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    In a SPLIT-ADJECTIVE language some property concept predicates will always receive a verbal encoding, whereas other property concept predicates will always be encoded by a nominal strategy.#740 is derivative of The Adjective Hierarchy (#741). #740 is supposed to have fewer counterexamples than #741 as a whole (Stassen 1997: 169).The Original phrasing is supposed to be implicational, but clearly isn’t as it stands. Seen as part of The Adjective Hierarchy, the implicational idea is obvious, though.

    1. May 2020

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