Category: Universals Archive

Universal 527: Original Zero is never expressed as part of the numeral system. Standardized Zero is never expressed as part of the numeral system. Keywords…

Universal 543: Original If a link for subtraction is final, the language is postpositional. Standardized IF a link for subtraction is final, THEN there are…

Universal 559: Original Where the distinction between absolute and contextual cardinal numerals exists, the use of contextual form as a multiplier with a lower base…

Universal 575: Du & Pl (exclusive pronoun) ⇒ Du & Pl (inclusive pronoun) Original There is no language which distinguishes a Dual and a Plural…

Universal 591: Original The repetition of syntactic constituents is used in all languages to express continuity of action (e.g. he walked and walked) and/or emphasis…

Universal 608: reflexive (1 &, v 2 ) ⇒ reflexive (3 ) Original If there are reflexive pronouns distinct from non-reflexive ones with 1st and/or…

Universal 624: SA ⇒ verb-initial V verb-final Original If a language has Suffixaufnahme, then it has verb-initial or verb-final constituent order. Standardized IF there is…

Universal 640: Original Variation of more than one pronominal category may occur in the same language in reference showing different degrees of respect. Standardized Variation…

Universal 656: Original The probability of homophony is inversely related to the number of principal phonemes and to the length of sequence units (phrases, words,…

Universal 672: Original See Graphics Standardized see Graphics Keywords order, noun, adjective, attributive, verb, object, topic, comment, preposition, postposition dependent-marking, analytic, synthetic morphosyntax, word accent,…