THEORY: Left- & Rightbranching languages? (was: THEORY: Connections ...)
| From: | Carsten Becker <naranoieati@...> |
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| Date: | Sunday, December 5, 2004, 14:08 |
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Hey!
On Saturday 04 December 2004 23:24, Rob Haden wrote:
> It seems to me that left-branching languages
> would tend to prefer ergative-absolutive, while
> right-branching languages would tend to prefer
> nominative-accusative.
What does "leftbranching" and "rightbranching" mean? Has it
to do with whether a languages puts words after or in front
of their heads? I mean, e.g. if you put an adjective in
front of the word it refers to or after it, or if you use
rather prepositions than postpositions?
Thanks,
Carsten
--
Eri silveváng aibannama padangin.
Nivaie evaenain eri ming silvoieváng caparei.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince
-> http://www.beckerscarsten.de/?conlang=ayeri
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