Category: Universals Archive

Universal 59: Original When any or all of these items — demonstrative, numeral, descriptive adjective — precede the noun, they are always found in that…

Universal 75: N Num ⇒ N A;equivalently: A N ⇒ Num N Original If a language has noun before numeral, then it has noun before…

Universal 91: Prep ⇒ (N A ⇒ N Rel) Original IF a language has Prep word order, then if the adjective follows the noun, the…

Universal 107: VO ⇒ N Rel & N Adj & N Gen;OV ⇒ Rel N & Adj N & Gen N Original Nominal modifiers (such…

Universal 123: Original In some languages objects [sic] — whether objects of transitive or subjects of intransitive sentences — may be alternatively marked by an…

Universal 139: Original If in a language a property is expressed alternatively by a noun and an adjective and there is an associated difference between…

Universal 155: Original Overt marking in the unitransitive clause implies overt dative marking. Any suspension of dative marking implies suspension of object marking; the restriction…

Universal 171: Original If a noun phrase constituent carries case and number inflection when co-occurring with a noun, it can also fill a nominal slot…

Universal 187: Original No language adds to the pair /t/ – /d/ a voiced aspirate /dh/ without having its voiceless counterpart /th/. Standardized IF there…

Universal 203: Original No set of case marking elements both participate in agreement and fail to express subject-object relations. Standardized IF a relational marker (case,…