Category: Universals Archive

Universal 771: Original The preferred number of primary fricatives in a given language is two. Standardized The preferred number of primary fricatives in a given…

Universal 787: glottal stop ⇒ primary oral stop Original No language has a glottal stop unless it also has a primary oral stop. Standardized IF…

Universal 803: /h/ precedes unstressed syllable ⇒ /h/ precedes secondary stressed syllable ⇒ /h/ precedes primary stressed syllable Original /h/ precedes primary stressed syllables more…

Universal 819: glottalized ⇒ aspirated ⇒ unaspirated Original Normal hierarchy of increasing markedness in consonants: unaspirated ⇒ aspirated ⇒ glottalized. Standardized IF there are glottalized…

Universal 835: Original A liquid with both lateral and non-lateral allophones is the likeliest candidate for the single liquid in a system. Standardized IF there…

Universal 851: Original In final clusters, the existence of at least one fricative + fricative combination implies the presence of at least one stop +…

Universal 867: Original In initial clusters, the existence of at least one sequence consisting of two voiced obstruents implies the existence of at least one…

Universal 883: Original All languages have a high or a lower high front vowel. Standardized All languages have a high or a lower high front…

Universal 899: indirect construction ⇔ progressive aspect & partial nature of the object;direct construction ⇔ non-progressive aspect & totally involved object Original Whenever indirect constructions…

Universal 915: externally modifiable NP > backgrounded NP > demoted NP > nonreferential noun Original Hierarchy of incorporability:externally modifiable NP > backgrounded NP > demoted…