Langloistype

Langloistype is a proposed linguistic typology that describes a constellation of grammatical features observed in a subset of natural languages. The label derives from the hypothetical linguist Langlois, who introduced the concept to categorize languages that share a strong cross-clausal suffixing system and a predominantly head-final structure.

In Langloistype, the basic word order tends to be subject–object–verb, and postpositions rather than prepositions encode spatial and other relations. Noun phrases typically feature rich agglutinative morphology, with suffixal case marking indicating grammatical role, number, and definiteness. Modifiers, including adjectives and relative clauses, usually follow the nouns they modify, and demonstratives may form part of the noun phrase either as separate words or as suffixal elements in some varieties. Verbs commonly carry extensive morphology for tense, aspect, mood, evidentiality, and person agreement, and may combine with auxiliary elements in multi‑word predicates.

Langloistype languages are reported across a small number of lineages that are geographically scattered, leading some scholars to argue for areal diffusion rather than a single genetic origin. Because data remain limited, the typology remains debated and is not universally accepted as a separate category in mainstream typology.

Criticism: Some typologists view Langloistype as overlapping with established categories such as SOV, postpositional, and agglutinative languages, and warn that it risks creating a catch‑all label without diagnostic criteria beyond familiar features.

See also: linguistic typology, SOV languages, postpositions, agglutinative languages.