Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1020: Original If a language has a parts-of speech system of types 1-3/4 and has Predicate-final word order, then it has ModifierHead basic word…

Universal 1036: Original When stress is phonologically predictable and unlimited, the relevant syllables may only be identified in terms of heaviness or open/peripheral vowel quality,…

Universal 1052: Original If determiners and modifiers agree both with head nouns, head nouns do not agree with attributive nouns, and vice versa. Standardized IF…

Universal 1068: Original If there is a contrast between light and heavy syllables, then there tends to be a contrast of consonant length. Standardized IF…

Universal 1084: Original If a language does not have a full six-position stop paradigm (/p, t, k, b, d, g/), the gaps are most likely…

Universal 1100: Original In every ergative language, as in every accusative language, the ‘antecedent’, i. e. the controller, of reflexivity is A (or S, where…

Universal 1116: Original All personal pronouns are definite. Standardized All personal pronouns are definite. Keywords definite, personal pronoun Domain inflection, syntax Type unconditional Status achronic…

Universal 1132: Original If only one person differentiates a dual, it will very likely be the 1st rather than the 2nd or 3rd. Standardized IF…

Universal 1148: Original If a language presents basic passives then it always passivizes ‘give’, ‘show’, etc. in such a way that the derived subject is…

Universal 1164: Original … vocatives do not undergo definitization in any language investigated. Most vocatives take no article at all or take the definite article.…