Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1035: Original When stress is phonologically predictable and limited to certain syllables (i.e., does not always fall on the same syllable), the potentially stressable…

Universal 1051: Original If there is agreement within clauses, agreement is likelier to be used than not to be used within NPs. Standardized IF there…

Universal 1067: Original If there is a contrast between light and heavy syllables, then there is a contrast of vowel length. Standardized IF there is…

Universal 1083: agreement with full noun phrases ⇒ agreement with pronouns Original … languages that show agreement with full noun phrases but not with pronouns…

Universal 1099: Original If a language has nasal vowels, it will have at least three, one of which is always a low vowel [ã]. Standardized…

Universal 1115: Original An optional rule such as scrambling is allowed only if its application creates a structure which is consistent with the parameter-setting (e.g.,…

Universal 1131: Duo-Paucal ⇒ Ambal Original If a language has the conception of an Duo-Paucal, it will have the conception of an Ambal. Standardized IF…

Universal 1147: Original If a language has two or more basic passives they are likely to differ semantically with respect to the aspect ranges they…

Universal 1163: indefinite article ⇒ definite article Original If a language has a grammaticalized indefinite article, it is likely to also have a definite article,…

Universal 1179: Original For the concept ‘testicle’, by far the most widespread source is provided by terms for ‘egg’, alternative options being ‘stone’, ‘pebble’, ‘seed’,…