Re: Géarthnuns takes on Greenberg's Word Order Universals

On Thu, 14 Sep 2000, DOUGLAS KOLLER wrote:

> > 10. Question particles or affixes, specified in position by reference to a
> > particular word in the sentence, almost always follow that word.  Such
> > particles do not occur in languages with dominant order VSO.
>
> I not quite sure I understand this one, but based on 9, I guess the answer
> would be 'no'?
I think it would be "N/A" or "yes".  The universals says that if the
interrogative particle must occur next to a specific word/category, it
will almost always follow it.

> > 15. In expressions of volition and purpose, a subordinate verbal form
> always
> > follows the main verb as the normal order except in those languages in
> which
> > the nominal object always precedes the verb.
>
> Yes?
Looks like yes, from your example.

> > 22. If in comparisons of superiority the only order or one of the
> alternative
> > orders is standard-marker-adjective, then the language is postpositional.
> > With
> > overwhelmingly more than chance frequency, if the only order is
> > adjective-marker-standard, the language is prepositional.
>
> Yes?
Looks like another yes.

> > 26. If a language has discontinuous affixes, it always either prefixing or
> > suffixing or both.
>
> N/A? Discontinuous affixes?
Discontinuous affixes are affixes that appear in two separate locations.
For example, if the past tense were expressed by ke-ta, a past tense verb
would be ke-bal-ta.

> > 28. If both the derivation and inflection follow the root, or they both
> > precede
> > the root, the derivation is always between the root and the inflection.
> >
> > 29. If a language has inflection, it always has derivation.
>
> Not quite sure I get 28 & 29. What is "derivation" here?
Derivational morpheme.

Marcus