Word Order Facts
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Languages of North America

Macro-area, as the atlas divides the world

WALS places 396 languages in North America, from 48 families. The largest are Oto-Manguean (56), Uto-Aztecan (44) and Algic (31).

Its most distinctive trait relative to the rest of the atlas: Glottalized Consonants = ejectives and glottalized resonants, held by 15 of 89 languages coded here (17%) against 4% worldwide.

For basic word order, SOV leads with 61 of the 176 languages coded, ahead of lacking a dominant word order (55).

Every WALS language assigned to North America.

Word order against the world

Languages of North America with at least 30 coded features, compared with every language coded for each pairing.

dependent before the headboth or otherafter the head

  • Subject and verb
    North Americabefore: 47both or other: 20after: 3447% · 34% of 101
    All WALSbefore: 1192both or other: 110after: 19480% · 13% of 1,496
  • Object and verb
    North Americabefore: 39both or other: 17after: 4539% · 45% of 101
    All WALSbefore: 712both or other: 101after: 70547% · 46% of 1,518
  • Noun phrase and adposition
    North Americabefore: 42both or other: 17after: 2948% · 33% of 88
    All WALSbefore: 577both or other: 96after: 51149% · 43% of 1,184
  • Genitive and noun
    North Americabefore: 52both or other: 10after: 2858% · 31% of 90
    All WALSbefore: 685both or other: 96after: 46855% · 37% of 1,249
  • Adjective and noun
    North Americabefore: 31both or other: 19after: 3736% · 43% of 87
    All WALSbefore: 373both or other: 115after: 87927% · 64% of 1,367
  • Demonstrative and noun
    North Americabefore: 60both or other: 7after: 2168% · 24% of 88
    All WALSbefore: 551both or other: 84after: 59045% · 48% of 1,225
  • Numeral and noun
    North Americabefore: 58both or other: 3after: 1774% · 22% of 78
    All WALSbefore: 479both or other: 67after: 60842% · 53% of 1,154
  • Relative clause and noun
    North Americabefore: 3both or other: 21after: 444% · 65% of 68
    All WALSbefore: 141both or other: 104after: 57917% · 70% of 824
  • Degree word and adjective
    North Americabefore: 32both or other: 6after: 1165% · 22% of 49
    All WALSbefore: 227both or other: 62after: 19247% · 40% of 481

Traits far more frequent here

FeatureValueHereAll WALS
Order of Relative Clause and NounInternally-headed relative clause13% (13 of 99)3%
Lateral Consonants/l/ and lateral obstruents29% (26 of 89)8%
Expression of Pronominal SubjectsPronominal subjects are expressed by clitics with variable host16% (16 of 103)5%
Rhythm TypesIambic: right-hand syllable in the foot is strong31% (16 of 52)10%
Position of Polar Question ParticlesQuestion particle in second position in sentence19% (23 of 122)6%
Plurality in Independent Personal PronounsPerson-number affixes31% (15 of 49)10%
Order of Subject, Object and VerbVerb-subject-object (VSO)20% (36 of 176)7%
Order of Subject and VerbSubject follows verb (VS)38% (72 of 190)13%
Uvular ConsonantsUvular stops and continuants25% (22 of 89)8%

Families and languages