Question

From the following, which is the correct order of animacy hierarchy?

• A. 1st/2nd Person $>$ 3rd Person $>$ Proper Name $>$ Human Noun
• B. 3rd Person $>$ 1st/2nd Person Person $>$ Proper Name $>$ Human Noun
• C. 3rd Person $>$ 1st/2nd Person $>$ Human Noun $>$ Proper Name
• D. 1st/2nd Person $>$ 3rd Person $>$ Human Noun $>$ Proper Name

Hint:

Remember the animacy hierarchy as: Speech participants $>$ 3rd person $>$ proper names $>$ human nouns $>$ non-human animates $>$ inanimates.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

 

Step 1: Understanding animacy hierarchy.
In linguistics, the animacy hierarchy organizes noun phrases according to their degree of animacy or salience in communication. More animate entities (like speech participants) rank higher than less animate ones (like common nouns).
 

Step 2: General principle.
The well-established hierarchy is:
\[ 1st/2nd Person > 3rd Person > \; > \; Proper Names \; > \; Human Nouns \; > \; Non-Human Animates \; > \; Inanimates \]

Step 3: Apply to options.
- Option (A) exactly matches the standard hierarchy (at least up to Human Noun).
- Option (B) wrongly places 3rd person above 1st/2nd Person 
- Option (C) misorders Human Noun and Proper Name.
- Option (D) misorders Human Noun and Proper Name.
Thus, the correct order is given in Option (A).
\[ \boxed{\text{1st/2nd Person $>$ 3rd person $>$ Proper Name $>$ Human Noun}} \]