Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1550: verb-initial ⇒ N Rel Original In verb-initial languages the dominant order of relative clauses is always postnominal. Standardized IF word order is verb-initial,…

Universal 1566: Original If there is a group of deagentive reflexive constructions, where (a) the agent can be expressed,(b) there is no subject, and (c)…

Universal 1582: Original If a language has a causative morpheme which expresses permissiveness, this morpheme usually combines with a larger group of verbal stems in…

Universal 1598: headless relative clause ⇒ productive nominalization Original Languages with headless relative clauses tend to have powerful and productive patterns of nominalization which are…

Universal 1614: Original If a language has grammatical agreement [see Comments for terminology], it is with just the A. Standardized IF person agreement of the…

Universal 1630: polysynthesis ⇒ ¬ NP reflexive Original All polysynthetic languages will lack overt NP anaphors, at least as objects. Standardized IF there is polysynthesis,…

Universal 1646: dependent-marked clause ⇒ dependent-marked relativization;head-marked relativization ⇒ head-marked clause Original For dependent-marking patterns, clause marking type implies relativization type; while for the head-marking…

Universal 1662: Original The frequency of kin term doublets is correlated with the parental prototype. Standardized IF there are doublets for kin terms other than…

Universal 1678: Original Progressives (which develop from locative, postural or movement verb constructions) tend to develop into imperfectives or occasionally presents. Standardized Progressives (which develop…

Universal 1694: interrogative pronouns > interrogative pro-adverbs > interrogative pro-adjectives > interrogative pro-numerals > interrogative pro-verbs Original There appears to be a differentiation hierarchy in…