[Lingtyp] Greenbergian universals predictions

[Patrik Austin]

I received a couple of emails in my inbox, although I was expecting
discussion on this list. Either way, there does not seem to be a single
person here who can tell whether the scorecard on page 18 produces the
correct predictions relating to the order of object, subject, and verb in
the linked article.
Can anyone help me find someone with expertise in typology or syntax in
general?
Thanks,
Patrik


Den tirs. 27. maj 2025 kl. 13.20 skrev Patrik Austin <
patrik.austin at gmail.com>:

> Relating to Greenbergian syntactic universals, thank you for many
> encouraging comments in my email back in April.
>
> I still have a question for the typological (and the overall linguistic)
> community. Can you say whether the scorecard on page 18 produces the
> correct predictions relating to the order of object, subject, and verb in
> the linked article?
>
> https://lingbuzz.net/lingbuzz/008892/current.pdf?_s=PI4bhcyX_wqspQSb
>
> Quote:
>
> The novel prediction (Table 2) is generated by the following four rules:
>
> (i) Each position in the transitive clause assigns a mathematical value
> for S or O.
>
> (ii) This value systematically decreases from left to right.
>
> (iii) If SO, the value is positive.
>
> (iv) If OS, the value is negative.
>
>
>
> Order                 Points for position
>                              Total
>
> - SO -                 +2                        +1
> +0
>
> SOV                    S                          O
>                         (V)                       +3
>
> SVO                    S                          (V)
>                       O                         +2
>
> VSO                    (V)                       S
>                          O                         +1
>
> - OS -                 -2                         -1
>                         -0
>
> VOS                    (V)                       O
> S                          -1
>
> OVS                    O                         (V)
> S                          -2
>
> OSV                    O                         S
>                          (V)                       -3
>
>
>
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