Category: Universals Archive

Universal 1010: Original There is no language in which there are more labials or velars than dentals. Standardized IF there are n labials or velars,…

Universal 1026: Original Languages with dominant order VSO and parts-of-speech system of types 1-3/4 always have the adjective after the noun. Standardized IF there is…

Universal 1042: Original When length distinctions are limited to certain positions in the word, these always include or are even confined to the stressed syllable.…

Universal 1058: Original If verbs agree in Gender, they are likelier to agree than not to agree in Person. Standardized IF verbs agree in Gender,…

Universal 1074: Original Languages with strong tonic accent … will have rhythmic groupings with the strong syllable leading; languages with accent based on duration ……

Universal 1090: Original Nasal stop systems do not have more place of articulation contrasts than corresponding oral stop systems. Standardized IF there are any place…

Universal 1106: locative possessive ⇒ simultaneous deranking Original If a language has a Locative Possessive, that language will have deranking of simultaneous sequences. Standardized IF…

Universal 1122: Original If predicates can incorporate their arguments (i.e., verbs their subjects and objects), then head nouns can incorporate their attributive clauses. Standardized IF…

Universal 1138: Original The passive-to-ergative change is unidirectional. There are no passive constructions which have been shown to have developed from ergative constructions. Standardized The…

Universal 1154: Original Occurrence of a resumptive pronoun in the relative clause in cases where the identical element is subject or object of the clause…