Documentation

Linglib.Typology.Comparison

Typology.Comparison #

@cite{stassen-2013} @cite{wals-2013} @cite{beck-2009} @cite{haspelmath-2001}

Per-language typological substrate for comparative-construction typology (Stassen's WALS Ch 121 framework + Beck-Crisma-Krasikova degree-word typology + superlative strategies). Fragment-importable; mirrors the Linglib/Typology/{Possession,Negation,Question}.lean pattern.

What lives here #

Theory-laden caveats #

Out of scope #

Stassen's 1985 fine-grained adverbial typology (ComparativeType1985, caseAssignment, fixedEncoding, spatialCase) and the 1985-↔-2013 consistency theorems live in Studies/Stassen1985.lean (paper-anchored). Cross-linguistic theorems consuming Fragment per-language data live in Studies/Stassen2013.lean.

WALS Ch 121: how a language expresses comparison of inequality.

Stassen's classification is based on how the standard of comparison (the Y in "X is more Adj than Y") is encoded. Five types are cross-cutting; a single language may use more than one productively (classified as "mixed").

  • locational : ComparativeType

    Locational: the standard is marked with a locational/ablative case or adposition. Example: Japanese Y yori X tall 'Y from/than X tall'. Also Turkish (ablative), Hindi-Urdu (se), Latin (ablative).

  • exceed : ComparativeType

    Exceed: a verb meaning 'exceed/surpass' encodes comparison. Example: Yoruba Ade ga ju Bola lo. Common in Niger-Congo + SE Asian.

  • conjoined : ComparativeType

    Conjoined: two juxtaposed clauses, one attributing the property to X and the other denying / contrasting it for Y. Rarest type.

  • particle : ComparativeType

    Particle: a dedicated comparative particle marks the standard (e.g. English than, German als). Standard Average European pattern.

  • mixed : ComparativeType

    Mixed: more than one type is productive without a clear dominant.

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      @cite{beck-2009}: presence of degree words in comparison constructions.

      • hasDegreeWord : DegreeWordType

        Free degree word (English more, French plus, Mandarin geng).

      • morphological : DegreeWordType

        Bound comparative morphology, no free degree word (English -er for short adjectives, Turkish -rak).

      • noDegreeMarking : DegreeWordType

        No overt degree marking (exceed-verb, juxtaposition, pragmatic).

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          How a language forms superlatives. Partially independent of comparative type; some languages lack a dedicated superlative entirely.

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              A language's comparative construction profile. Fragment-side joint: every Fragments/{Lang}/Comparison.lean exposes def comparison : ComparativeProfile.

              • language : String

                Language name.

              • iso : String

                ISO 639-3 code.

              • comparativeType : ComparativeType

                WALS Ch 121 comparative type.

              • degreeWord : DegreeWordType

                Degree word typology.

              • superlative : SuperlativeStrategy

                Primary superlative strategy.

              • comparativeForm : String

                Illustrative comparative form.

              • standardMarker : String

                Standard marker (the "than" equivalent), if applicable.

              • degreeMarker : String

                Degree marker ("more" equivalent), if applicable.

              • basicOrder : String

                Dominant basic word order (for word-order correlations).

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                  Does a language have a given comparative type?

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                    Does a language have bound comparative morphology?

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                      Does a language lack overt degree marking entirely?

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                        Is this an SOV language?

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                          Is this an SVO language?

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                            Count of languages in a sample with a given comparative type.

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                              Count of languages in a sample by degree word type.

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                                Count of languages in a sample by superlative strategy.

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