Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1287: Original The Verb-Object Bonding Principle (VOB):The object of a transitive verb is more tightly bounded to the verb than is its subject. Standardized…

Universal 1303: postposition ⇒ Plural affixes on N are suffixed Original If a language is postpositional, plural affixes on noun (if any) are suffixed with…

Universal 1319: Original Monomorphemic reflexives can take long-distance antecedents whereas polymorphemic reflexives cannot. Standardized IF a reflexive can take long-distance antecedents, THEN it is monomorphemic.…

Universal 1335: Original If we have an OSV basic order, then we also have SOV as an alternative order.If we have an OVS basic order,…

Universal 1351: Original Every superessive or possessive augend is a serialized augend. Standardized In numeral systems, every superessive or possessive augend is a serialized augend.…

Universal 1367: Original If grammatical number (singular, dual, paucal, plural) is marked at all on classifier constructions, it is usually marked on or by classifier…

Universal 1383: Original No language with a traditional auxiliary verb which has subject agreement will not include it in the auxiliary. Standardized IF the finite…

Universal 1399: Original All languages have sentences with sentence-initial and non-sentence initial adverbial constituents.For most, if not all, adverbial constructions in all languages , the…

Universal 1415: Original If heads of possessive constructions agree with their possessors in a given language then verbs agree with subjects in that language. Standardized…