Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1342: Original If a language has dominant SOV order and the genitive follows the governing noun and the language has a parts-of-speech system of…

Universal 1358: Original If a serialized multiplicand is a factor in some product in which the multiplier is larger than the multiplicand, it is also…

Universal 1374: gap in complex NP ⇒ gap in finite subordinate clause ⇒ gap in infinitival phrase Original Clause embedding hierarchy: S[…VP’[ … Oi …]…

Universal 1390: Original In retrospective languages obligatory occurrence of past tense implies the same for future tense, the converse holding for prospective languages. Standardized In…

Universal 1406: Du Incl & ¬Du Excl ⇒ Pl Incl & Pl Excl Original When the sole dual pronoun is a first person inclusive, there…

Universal 1422: voiceless obstruent (word-finally) ⇒ sonorant consonant (word-finally) Original If there are voiceless obstruents word-finally, then there are sonorant consonants word-finally. Standardized IF there…

Universal 1438: anger & guilt > adoration, alarm, amusement, & depression > alienation, arousal, & agony > eagerness > anxiety, aggravation, & pride > contentment…

Universal 1454: Original In all languages, there is a special form to denote the metaperson ‘non-participant’. Standardized In all languages, there is a special form…

Universal 1470: Original In all languages, if the metaperson ‘hearer(s) + non-participant(s)’ is not the only meaning denoted by some form, then this form must…

Universal 1486: Incl/Excl (Du) ⇒ Incl/Excl (Pl) Original If in a language there is an opposition of the metapersons ‘speaker + hearer’ and ‘speaker +…