Category: Universals Archive

Universal 400: (plural marker (1 &/V. 2 person pronoun) = plural marker (noun)) ⇒ the same plural marker (3 person pronoun) Original If a language…

Universal 416: Original The degree of bounding between stem and affix is in proportion to the semantic relevance of the affix to the stem. Standardized…

Universal 432: voice (non-indicative mood) ⇒ voice (indicative mood) Original If there is a certain distinction as to voice in the forms of a non-indicative…

Universal 448: Original A genitive-marked constituent in a pronominally possessed construction implies genitive marking of the corresponding constituent in a nominally possessed construction. Standardized IF…

Universal 464: Original With more than chance frequency, an NP with a semantic role of peregrinator (the one who moves) is considered a subject of…

Universal 481: progressive aspect is signalled by a suffix ⇒ tense & mood & person suffixes follow progressive aspect suffix Original If progressive is signaled…

Universal 497: VSO => initial interrogative word;SOV ⇒ ¬initial interrogative word Original If a language has dominant order VSO in declarative sentences, it always puts…

Universal 513: gender ⇒ number Original If a language has the category of gender, it always has the category of number. Standardized IF there is…

Universal 529: Original No number is ever expressed in any numeral system by means of a function any of whose arguments is ≥ L. Standardized…

Universal 545: Original The degree of morphological fusion varies inversely with the size of the numerical value. Standardized The degree of morphological fusion varies inversely…