Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1005: spiratized dentals ⇒ spirantized labials & spirantized velars Original … across-the-board spirantization processes tend to start with labials and velars and then spread…

Universal 1021: Original If a language has a parts-of speech system of types 1-3/4 and has Predicate-initial word order, then it has HeadModifier basic word…

Universal 1037: Original When stress is not phonologically predictable (i.e., when it is phonemic, fulfilling grammatical or lexical functions) and limited to certain syllables (i.e.…

Universal 1053: Original If determiners agree within NPs, modifiers are likelier also to agree than not to agree. Standardized IF determiners agree within NPs, modifiers…

Universal 1069: Original When stress is sensitive to syllable weight, the general case is that a short vowel in open syllable position shows a reluctance…

Universal 1085: voicing contrast in stops ⇒ /t/ & /k/ Original /t/ and /k/ are present in every language which has a voicing contrast in…

Universal 1101: ergative syntactically ⇒ ergative morphologically Original Any language that is syntactically ergative will also have some ergative characteristics at the morphological level. Standardized…

Universal 1117: passive with agent phrases ⇒ passive without agent phrases Original If a language has passives with agent phrases then it has them without…

Universal 1133: Original If only two persons differentiate a dual, the 1st is much likelier to be one of them than the 3rd. Standardized IF…

Universal 1149: sentential objects can be passivized ⇒ lexical NP objects can be passivized Original If a language can passivize transitive verb phrases taking sentential…