Month: May 2020

Universal 505: Original If both the derivation and inflection follow the root, or they both precede the root, the derivation is always between the root…

Universal 504: only suffixes ⇒ postposition;only prefixes ⇒ preposition Original If a language is exclusively suffixing, it is postpositional; if it is exclusively prefixing, it…

Universal 503: discontinuous affixes ⇒ prefixes &, V. suffixes Original If a language has discontinuous affixes, it always has either prefixing or suffixing or both.…

Universal 502: pronominal object follows the verb ⇒ nominal object follows the verb Original If the pronominal object follows the verb, so does the nominal…

Universal 501: VSO ⇒ Aux V;SOV ⇒ V Aux Original In languages with dominant order VSO, an inflected auxiliary always precedes the main verb. In…

Universal 500: In expressions of volition and purpose: OV ⇒ Subordinate-Main verb; VO ⇒ Main verb-Subordinate Original In expressions of volition and purpose, a subordinate…

Universal 499: Original In conditional statements, the conditional clause precedes the conclusion as the normal order in all languages. Standardized In conditional statements, the conditional…

Universal 498: OV ⇒ Subordinate-Main verb Original If the nominal object always precedes the verb, then verb forms subordinate to the main verb also precede…

Universal 497: VSO => initial interrogative word;SOV ⇒ ¬initial interrogative word Original If a language has dominant order VSO in declarative sentences, it always puts…

Universal 496: initial question word ⇒ inversion Verb-Subject;inversion Verb-Subject (interrogative question) ⇒ inversion Verb-Subject (yes-no question) Original Inversion of statement order so that verb precedes…