Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1412: Original All languages have constructions whose primary function is to place new or contrastive topics at the beginning of the sentence. Standardized All…

Universal 1428: ¬ preverb ⇒ verb bases denoting direction Original If a language lacks preverbs, it must have special verb bases denoting direction. Standardized IF…

Universal 1444: Original In all languages, if the metaperson ‘speaker’ is not the only meaning denoted by a certain pronominal form, then among its meanings…

Universal 1460: Original In all languages, if some form denotes the metaperson ‘speaker + hearer(s)’, it must also denote the metaperson ‘speaker + hearer(s) +…

Universal 1476: Original In an overwhelming majority of languages, if some form denotes the metaperson ‘speaker + hearer(s) + non-participant(s)’, then it cannot denote the…

Universal 1492: Original Incorporated nouns attach to the right of the verb stem in verb-initial languages. Standardized IF basic word order is verb-initial, THEN nouns…

Universal 1508: general psych-verbs > general emotion verbs > evaluation, WANT > verbs of authority, ruling Original Hierarchy of verb classes often using subject or…

Universal 1524: OS ⇒ Num N Original [In subject-final languages] With much greater than chance frequency numerical expressions precede the nouns they modify. Standardized IF…

Universal 1540: Original In verb-initial languages, speech act indicators (e.g. question particles, etc.) are normally sentence initial, though other positions are possible. Standardized IF word…

Universal 1556: verb-initial ⇒ ¬ embedded sentential objects Original In verb-initial languages, sentential objects are never embedded. They normally follow the main sentence but may…