Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1692: absolute posterior consecutive deranking ⇒ VSO Original Languages with absolute posterior consecutive deranking typically have VSO word order. Standardized IF there is absolute…

Universal 1708: Original The Strength Assimilation Law:If Consonantal Strength is assimilated in a syllable contact, the Consonantal Strength of the stronger speech sound decreases. Standardized…

Universal 1724: Original Nominally used demonstratives never occur with the non-bound definite article. Standardized When a demonstrative is used nominally (forming an NP of its…

Universal 1740: Original There is no language with endoclitics, i.e., clitics inside words do not exist. Standardized There are no endoclitics, i.e., clitics inside words…

Universal 1756: Original For all languages, if tense is marked on non-finite forms, then it is also marked on finite forms. Standardized IF tense is…

Universal 1772: Original Nasalization is more likely to occur before consonants than vowels. Standardized IF nasalization occurs before a vowel, THEN it will occur before…

Universal 1788: ^VN ⇒ ‘VN Original N-deletion occurs first in unstressed/atonic syllables before spreading to stressed/tonic syllables. Standardized IF N-deletion occurs first in stressed/tonic syllables,…

Universal 1804: Original IF there is a voiced dental-alveolar sibilant fricative [”z”], THEN there is a voiceless dental-alveolar sibilant fricative [”s”]. Standardized IF there is…

Universal 1820: Original Standardized IF there is a labialized voiceless uvular stop, THEN there is a labialized voiceless velar stop. Keywords stop, labial, uvular, velar,…

Universal 1836: Original Standardized IF there is a voiceless alveolar lateral ejective affricate, THEN there is also a voiceless alveolar sibilant ejective affricate. Keywords affricate,…