[Lingtyp] Adjective word order cognitive universal

[Randy J. LaPolla]

Hi Hedvig,
The idea that there is some cognitive/functional regularity to and explanation for the order of elements is not new, the best discussion of the complexities of this being Halliday 1994 (section on this attached). It is not as simple as often treated in typology, once function is taken into account.

Randy
-----
Randy J. LaPolla, PhD FAHA （羅仁地）
Professor of Linguistics, with courtesy appointment in Chinese, School of Humanities 
Nanyang Technological University
HSS-03-45, 48 Nanyang Avenue | Singapore 639818
http://randylapolla.net/
Most recent books:
The Sino-Tibetan Languages, 2nd Edition (2017)
https://www.routledge.com/The-Sino-Tibetan-Languages-2nd-Edition/LaPolla-Thurgood/p/book/9781138783324 <https://www.routledge.com/The-Sino-Tibetan-Languages-2nd-Edition/LaPolla-Thurgood/p/book/9781138783324>
Sino-Tibetan Linguistics (2018)
https://www.routledge.com/Sino-Tibetan-Linguistics/LaPolla/p/book/9780415577397 <https://www.routledge.com/Sino-Tibetan-Linguistics/LaPolla/p/book/9780415577397>









> On 13 Oct 2019, at 11:02 AM, Hedvig Skirgård <hedvig.skirgard at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Dear LINGTYP, 
> 
> In a recent paper on word order and cognitive universals, Alexander Martin, Theeraporn Ratitamkul, Klaus Abels, David Adger and Jennifer Culbertson argue that there are certain cognitive constraints when it comes to the placement of numerals, demonstratives and adjectives in a noun phrase. 
> 
> "First, the most common orders place adjectives closest to the noun, then numerals, then demonstratives (e.g., N-Adj-Num-Dem). Second, exceptions to this are restricted to post-nominal position (e.g., N-Dem-Num-Adj, but not, for instance, Adj-Num-Dem-N)."
> 
> https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/lingvan.2019.5.issue-1/lingvan-2018-0072/lingvan-2018-0072.xml <https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/lingvan.2019.5.issue-1/lingvan-2018-0072/lingvan-2018-0072.xml>
> 
> Is there anyone on this list that know of an example of Adj-Num-Dem-N being the most common order in a language? 
> 
> Caveats for the existence of "adjectives" as a category of course, anything that is functionally similar enough will do. (Same for the others.)
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Med vänliga hälsningar,
> Hedvig Skirgård
> 
> PhD Candidate
> The Wellsprings of Linguistic Diversity
> ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language
> School of Culture, History, and Language
> College of Asia and the Pacific
> The Australian National University
> Website <https://sites.google.com/site/hedvigskirgard/>
> 
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