Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1511: Original In languages whose numeral systems consists of less than five numerals, the highest numeral is likely to be derived from an approximate…

Universal 1527: OS ⇒ Caus Verb Original A causative element precedes the root of the causativized verb in subject-final languages. Standardized IF subject full noun…

Universal 1543: verb-initial ⇒ preposition Original In verb-initial languages, where case marking exists, it is normally done by prepositions. Standardized IF word order is verb-initial…

Universal 1559: verb-initial ⇒ passive voice Original Verb-initial languages always have a passive voice and it is almost always marked in the verbal morphology (rather…

Universal 1575: Original If there are any reflexive verbs derived from intransitives by adding reflexive marker and an affix (or a predicative adjective, etc.), a…

Universal 1591: internal relative clause ⇒ SOV Original Clear cases of internal relative clauses are present only in languages whose basic word order is SOV.…

Universal 1607: modals/auxiliaries do not inflect for person ⇒ ¬ infinitive Original If the modals/auxiliaries of a language do not inflect for person, then it…

Universal 1623: Original There is some evidence that in numeral classifier languages when concrete objects are counted the numerals always occur with the appropriate classifiers.…

Universal 1639: Original Evolution of semantic functions of subjective reflexive markers: semantic reflexivity > ‘partitive object’ and/or autocausative > absolute and/or reciprocal. (a) RMs with…

Universal 1655: Original Whenever the same term is used to designate the mother and the father’s sister, this same term is used for the mother’s…