Universals Archive
A database of proposed crosslinguistic laws and tendencies in grammar across the world’s languages. 2,029 published entries.
827 entries · page 11 of 17
| # | Standardized / Original | Domain | Type | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1365 | In numeral systems, IF the multiplier follows the multiplicand in a particular numeral, THEN it follows in all higher numerals which are expressed by multiplication. IF there is this variability in multiplicand-multiplier order, THEN the numeral follows the noun. |
word formation | implication | order, numeral, noun |
| 1371 | If grammatical number (singular, dual, paucal, plural) is marked at all on classifier constructions, it is usually marked on or by the classifier, not on the noun, which has the characteristic of a mass, collective, or uncountable noun. | inflection | no genuine implication; rather: provided that | classifier, number, noun |
| 1376 | IF basic word order is verb-peripheral (i.e. SOV, VOS), THEN there tends to be no transitive verb of possession HAVE. IF there is a transitive verb HAVE, THEN basic word order is SVO. |
syntax, lexicon | implication | order, verb, possession |
| 1384 | Question-word Fronting and Basic Word Order: A fronted WH-question word will be preferred across languages in proportion to the distance between WH and the subcategorizing verb in its basic order: the smaller the FGD, the more the WH-word is fronted. |
syntax | implication | question, fronting, order |
| 1393 | Retrospective languages tend toward finer temporal gradation in the past than in the future and prospective languages tend toward no or equal gradation of past and future tenses. | inflection, syntax | no genuine implication; rather: provided that | tense, past, future |
| 1410 | IF in the dual there is only an inclusive pronoun and no exclusive one, THEN in the plural both forms will be present. | inflection | implication | pronoun, number, dual, plural, inclusive, exclusive |
| 1411 | IF there are irregularities in the constituency of the numerals, THEN they immediately precede or follow the base. | word formation | no genuine implication; rather: provided that | numeral |
| 1412 | The higher the number of principle phonemes, the higher the probability of redundancy. | phonology | implication | phoneme, redundancy |
| 1413 | In interjections one or more marginal phonemes occur with a percentage which is characteristic only for principle phonemes. | phonology | unconditional | phoneme, interjection |
| 1414 | In all languages possessing the vowel /ä/, the /a/ is articulated more backward (velar) than in languages which have no /ä/. | phonology | implication | vowel, backness |
| 1415 | IF only one member of a customary phoneme opposition exists, THEN the existing member of the opposition can take over (fully or partially) the articulatory peculiarities of the lacking member. | phonology | no genuine implication; rather: provided that | phoneme, opposition |
| 1421 | IF there are separate forms for narrative and non-narrative past contexts, the non-narrative forms tend to be more highly marked than the narrative ones. | inflection | no genuine implication; rather: provided that | tense, past, context, narrative, markedness |
| 1422 | It is almost always possible to use the least marked indicative verb from in a narrative context. | inflection | unconditional | tense, mood, indicative, context, narrative, markedness |
| 1423 | IF a language has OV order, THEN the predicate precedes the copula. IF a language has VO order, THEN the predicate follows the copula. |
syntax | implication | order, copula, predicate |
| 1425 | There is a tendency for languages having nasalized vowels to show more asymmetry than languages having long vowels. | phonology | unconditional | nasal, length, vowel |
| 1427 | Secondary fricatives are the results of diachronic developments from clusters. | phonology | target < source | fricative, cluster |
| 1428 | Secondary oral stops, apart from borrowings, are the results of diachronic developments from clusters. | phonology | target < source | stop, cluster |
| 1430 | If the word order is OV, THEN adverbial clause always precede the main clause. If the word order is VO or OV/VO, THEN adverbial clause may precede or follow the main clause. |
syntax | implication | order, OV, VO, clause, main, subordinate |
| 1431 | If there are no prefixes, THEN there are no prepositions. OR, BY CONTRAPOSITION: If there are prepositions, THEN there will be prefixes. |
inflection, syntax | implication | prefix, preposition, local case |
| 1435 | IF there is a highly developed case system, THEN the system of verbal tenses will be less developed, and vice versa. or IF there are many cases, THEN there are few tense oppositions. IF there are few cases, THEN there are many tense oppositions. |
inflection | implication | case system, tense |
| 1436 | IF there is no auxiliary verb in the perfect, THEN the auxiliary verb does not have present tense form. |
inflection, syntax | no genuine implication; rather: provided that | verb, auxiliary, tense, present, perfect |
| 1437 | IF there is perfect, THEN there will be pluperfect. | inflection | implication | tense, perfect, pluperfect |
| 1438 | IF there are many tense oppositions, THEN there is no aspect differentiation. | inflection | implication | tense, aspect |
| 1439 | IF there is no aspect differentiation, THEN there are continuous tenses. | inflection | mutual implication | aspect, tense, continuous |
| 1440 | IF the adjective follows the noun, THEN there is an overt copula form (of 'to be') in the present tense form. | inflection, syntax | implication | order, noun, adjective, copula, tense, present |
| 1442 | IF there is at least one folk term for the categories of exasperation, relief, longing, torment, and enthrallment, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the categories of pity, enthusiasm, and dismay. IF there is at least one folk term for the categories of pity, enthusiasm, and dismay, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the categories of amazement, envy, and disgust. IF there is at least one folk term for the categories of amazement, envy, and disgust, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the category of contentment. IF there is at least one folk term for the category of contentment, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the categories of anxiety, aggravation, and pride. IF there is at least one folk term for the categories of anxiety, aggravation, and pride, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the category of eagerness. IF there is at least one folk term for the category of eagerness, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the categories of alienation, arousal, and agony. IF there is at least one folk term for the categories of alienation, arousal, and agony, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the categories of adoration, alarm, amusement, and depression. IF there is at least one folk term for the categories of adoration, alarm, amusement, and depression, THEN there is most likely at least one term for the categories of anger and guilt. |
lexicon | implicational hierarchy | hierarchy, emotion categories |
| 1445 | In an overwhelming majority of languages, there is a special form to denote the metaperson 'speaker'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | unconditional | pronoun, personal pronoun, person, 1st |
| 1447 | IF some form denotes the metaperson 'speaker', THEN it cannot include among its meanings the following metapersons: (a) 'speaker+hearer(s)' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)', (b) 'speaker+hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'. |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, speaker, hearer, non-participant |
| 1449 | In an overwhelming majority of languages, there is a special form to denote the metaperson 'hearer' in the singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | unconditional | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, singular |
| 1451 | IF a pronominal form denotes the metaperson 'hearer' in the singular, it cannot include among its meanings the following metapersons: (a) 'speaker + hearer(s)' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)', (b) 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)', (c) 'non-participant' |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, singular, speaker, non-participant |
| 1452 | IF the metaperson 'hearer' in the singular is not the only meaning expressed by a pronominal form, THEN this form includes among its meanings the metapersons: a) 'hearer' in the non-singular; b) 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)' |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, singular, non-singular, non-participant |
| 1453 | In no language is there a special form to denote the metaperson 'hearer' in the non-singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | unconditional | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, non-singular, inclusive, exclusive |
| 1454 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'hearer' in the non-singular, THEN this form includes among its meanings the metaperson 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, non-singular, non-participant, inclusive, exclusive |
| 1456 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'hearer' in the non-singular, THEN it cannot include among its meanings the following metapersons: (a) 'hearer' in singular; (b) 'speaker + hearer(s)' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)', (c) 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)' ; (d) 'non-participant'. |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, non-singular, speaker |
| 1457 | IF the metaperson 'hearer' in the non-singular (and consequently, the metaperson 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)') are not the only meanings of a pronominal form, THEN the metaperson 'hearer' in the singular is also among its meanings. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, number, singular, non-singular, non-participant |
| 1459 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'non-participant' in the singular, THEN it cannot be used to denote the metaperson 'non-participant' in the non-singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 3rd, non-participant, number, singular, non-singular |
| 1460 | IF the metaperson 'non-participant' in the singular is not the only meaning denoted by a pronominal form, THEN the only other metaperson expressed will be 'non-participant' in the non-singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 3rd, non-participant, number, singular, non-singular |
| 1461 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'non-participant' in the non-singular, THEN it cannot be used to denote the metaperson 'non-participant' in the singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 3rd, non-participant, number, singular, non-singular |
| 1462 | IF the metaperson 'non-participant' in the non-singular is not the only meaning denoted by a form, THEN among its meanings can only be metaperson 'non-participant' in the singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 3rd, non-participant, number, singular, non-singular |
| 1465 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'speaker + hearer(s)', THEN (a) in some languages this form can also denote the metaperson 'speaker + non-participant(s)'; (b) in some other languages it can not denote the metaperson 'speaker + non-participant(s)'. |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, 2nd, speaker, hearer, non-participant, inclusive, exclusive |
| 1466 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'speaker + hearer(s)' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)', THEN it cannot denote the metaperson 'non-participant'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, speaker, hearer, non-participant, inclusive, exclusive |
| 1467 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'speaker + hearer(s)' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)', THEN it cannot include among its meanings the following metapersons: (a) 'speaker'; (b) 'hearer' in singular; (c) 'hearer' in non-singular; (d) 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'. |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, speaker, hearer, non-participant, inclusive, exclusive, number, singular, non-singular |
| 1468 | IF the metapersons 'speaker + hearer(s)' and 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)' are not the only meanings denoted by a form, THEN the others metapersons expressed will be 'speaker' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, speaker, hearer, non-participant |
| 1469 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'speaker + non-participant(s)', THEN (a) in some languages it cannot include among its meanings any other metaperson; (b) in some other languages it can also denote metapersons 'speaker + hearer(s)' and 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)', and for this case universals <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1466"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1467"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0"> are valid. |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, speaker, hearer, non-participant |
| 1470 | IF the metaperson 'speaker + non-participant(s)' is not the only meaning of a form, THEN this form must also denote the metapersons 'speaker' and/or 'speaker + hearer(s)' (and consequently, 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'). | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, speaker, hearer, non-participant |
| 1471 | In an overwhelming majority of languages, there is no special form to denote the metaperson 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | unconditional | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, non-participant, inclusive, exclusive |
| 1472 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)', THEN it also denotes the metaperson 'hearer' in the non-singular. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, hearer, non-participant, number, non-singular |
| 1473 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'hearer(s) + non-participant(s)', THEN it cannot include among its meanings the following metapersons: (a) 'hearer' in singular; (b) 'speaker + hearer(s)' and/or 'speaker + non-participant(s)'; (c) 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'; (d) 'non-participant'. |
inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 2nd, speaker, hearer, non-participant, number, singular |
| 1476 | In an overwhelming majority of languages, there is no special form to denote the metaperson 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | unconditional | personal pronoun, person, speaker, hearer, non-participant |
| 1477 | IF a form denotes the metaperson 'speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)', THEN it denotes also the metaperson 'speaker + hearer(s)'. | inflection, syntax, lexicon | implication | personal pronoun, person, 1st, 2nd, speaker, hearer, non-participant |