Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1158: Original If the indefinite article is derived from the cardinal ‘one’, non-numerable nouns cannot take indefinite article. Standardized IF the indefinite article is…

Universal 1174: Original If in a given language a term for a cardinal direction is introduced, then the sun provides the most likely model to…

Universal 1190: non-subjects control reflexives/reciprocals ⇒ subjects control reflexives/reciprocals Original If non-subject can control reflexives/reciprocals, then subjects can, too. Standardized IF non-subject can control reflexives/reciprocals,…

Universal 1206: Original Constraint on negating self-dual and monotone decreasing quantifiers:If a language has a syntactic construction whose semantic function is to negate a quantifier,…

Universal 1222: local case ⇒ other local expressions Original If there are local cases, then there are very likely also other expressions for localization, viz.…

Universal 1238: Original No language has uniform V.CCV division of two-segment clusters if it has final consonants. Standardized IF there are final consonants, THEN there…

Universal 1254: Original Labiovelar stops are less likely to participate in consonant gradation than other stops of the same series. Standardized Labiovelar stops are less…

Universal 1270: Original If there is one or more distinctions or remoteness in a tense-aspect system, and reference can be made to objective time measures,…

Universal 1286: Original The Animated First Principle (AFP):In simple transitive clauses, the NP which is most animated will precede NPs which are less animated. Standardized…

Universal 1302: SOV ⇒ Definiteness affixes on N are suffixed Original If a language has SOV, definiteness affixes on noun (if any) are suffixed with…