Category: Universals Archive

Universal 987: adverbial comparative ⇒ deranking & total identity deletion Original Languages with an adverbial comparative are languages with absolute deranking and total identity deletion.…

Universal 1003: vowel > semivowel > liquid > spirant > sibilant > nasal > stop Original Resonance Hierarchy:vowel > semivowel > liquid > spirant >…

Universal 1019: Original If a language has a parts-of speech system of types 1-3/4, then it does not allow variation in the ordering of Subject…

Universal 1035: Original When stress is phonologically predictable and limited to certain syllables (i.e., does not always fall on the same syllable), the potentially stressable…

Universal 1051: Original If there is agreement within clauses, agreement is likelier to be used than not to be used within NPs. Standardized IF there…

Universal 1067: Original If there is a contrast between light and heavy syllables, then there is a contrast of vowel length. Standardized IF there is…

Universal 1083: agreement with full noun phrases ⇒ agreement with pronouns Original … languages that show agreement with full noun phrases but not with pronouns…

Universal 1099: Original If a language has nasal vowels, it will have at least three, one of which is always a low vowel [ã]. Standardized…

Universal 1115: Original An optional rule such as scrambling is allowed only if its application creates a structure which is consistent with the parameter-setting (e.g.,…

Universal 1131: Duo-Paucal ⇒ Ambal Original If a language has the conception of an Duo-Paucal, it will have the conception of an Ambal. Standardized IF…