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Universal 825:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 825:

Original
If a language places relative pronouns that are not interrogative in form in initial position in postnominal relative clauses, then either that language has initial interrogative pronouns in questions or it has a general topicalization process that places thematic material in initial position.
Standardized
IF relative pronouns that are not interrogative in form occur in initial position in postnominal relative clauses, THEN either there are initial interrogative pronouns in questions or there is a general topicalization process that places thematic material in initial position.
Keywords
relative clause, relative pronoun, interrogative, order, topic
Domain
syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute?
Basis
languages mentioned in Schwartz 1971, Downing 1978
Source
Downing 1978: 391, Schwartz 1971
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP
    1. May 2020

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