Category: Universals Archive

Universal 538: Multiplicand Multiplier ⇒ Noun Numeral Original If there are numerals in which the expression of the multiplier follows that of the multiplicand, the…

Universal 554: Original The construction with the interrogative “how many?” is usually the same as that with the highest block of numerals. Standardized The construction…

Universal 570: definite article is grammaticalized in subject NPs ⇒ definite article is grammaticalized in direct object NPs ⇒ definite article is grammaticalized in prepositionally…

Universal 586: agglutinative ⇒ ¬ gender inflection Original If a language is of the agglutinative type, then it cannot have grammatical gender. Standardized IF morphology…

Universal 602: Original No accusative language has only ergative-type verb agreement in person or number or gender. Standardized IF alignment is accusative for some/many purposes,…

Universal 618: Original If a language can relativize a subordinate direct object, then it can relativize a main clause direct object. Standardized IF a subordinate…

Universal 634: SA ⇒ non-configurational syntax Original If a language has Suffixaufnahme, then it has non-configurational (“flat”) syntax. Standardized IF there is Suffixaufnahme, THEN syntax…

Universal 650: stative-active (3) ⇒ stative-active (1&2) Original IF a language has agent-patient case marking in 3rd person, it will also have agent-patient marking in…

Universal 666: information question inversion ⇒ question words are sentence initial Original If a language has information question inversion, question words are almost always sentence…

Universal 682: Original If morphological Negation, then following factors are likely:a. portmanteau realization of Neg;b. prosodic unity of Neg and verb (viz. if they ‘share’…