Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1545: Original In verb-initial languages, the demonstrative, numeral, and qualifying adjective follow the common noun in that order or its mirror image (Adj +…

Universal 1561: verb-initial ⇒ ¬ overt copula Original Verb-initial languages normally have no overt copula. Standardized IF word order is verb-initial, THEN there is no…

Universal 1577: Original If there is a reflexive verb meaning ‘to laugh’ it is usually not derived from the transitive base meaning ‘to make somebody…

Universal 1593: internal relative clause ⇒ null anaphora Original Internally headed relative clauses occur only in languages manifesting null anaphora (that is, the use of…

Universal 1609: Original Cross-linguistically, languages would not be expected to exhibit phonological constrasts such as [-nasal] laryngeal segments and [+nasal] laryngeal segments. Standardized Languages would…

Universal 1625: Original In languages with double numeral systems, the set of numerals labelled as A tends to be associated with singular(s) as the unmarked…

Universal 1641: transitive > objective > subjective Original Syntactic functions of reflexive markers fall into an implicational hierarchy: transitive > objective > subjective function. If…

Universal 1657: Original All systems distinguish male and female parent by separate terms even though very frequently other kin types are included in the referents…

Universal 1673: VSO ⇒ no question particle in Wh word questions Original In most VSO languages, the question particle (corresponding to the English if/whether) does…

Universal 1689: posterior consecutive deranking & VSO ⇒ absolute deranking Original If a language has posterior consecutive deranking and its word order is VSO, then…