SettingsLinguistic typology
Accessibility Hierarchy
In linguistics, the Accessibility Hierarchy is cross-linguistic generalization of the increasing difficulty involved in processing relative clauses when placed in specific grammatical roles: :Su...
In linguistics, the Accessibility Hierarchy is cross-linguistic generalization of the increasing difficulty involved in processing relative clauses when placed in specific grammatical roles: :Su...
Alien language
Alien language is a generic term used to describe a possible language originating from a hypothetical alien species.
Alien language is a generic term used to describe a possible language originating from a hypothetical alien species.
Austronesian alignment
Austronesian alignment, commonly known as the Philippine- or Austronesian-type voice system, is a typologically unusual morphosyntactic alignment that combines features of ergative a...
Austronesian alignment, commonly known as the Philippine- or Austronesian-type voice system, is a typologically unusual morphosyntactic alignment that combines features of ergative a...
Branching (linguistics)
In linguistics, branching refers to the shape of the syntax trees that represent the structure of sentences.
In linguistics, branching refers to the shape of the syntax trees that represent the structure of sentences.
Case hierarchy
In linguistic typology, the case hierarchy states grammatical cases in order of their prominence.
In linguistic typology, the case hierarchy states grammatical cases in order of their prominence.
Covert (linguistics)
In linguistics, a feature of a word or phrase is said to be covert if there is no surface evidence of its existence within that word or phrase.
In linguistics, a feature of a word or phrase is said to be covert if there is no surface evidence of its existence within that word or phrase.
Cryptotype
Cryptotype or covert categories of language is a concept coined by Benjamin Lee Whorf which describes semantic or syntactic features, that do not have a morphological implementation, but w...
Cryptotype or covert categories of language is a concept coined by Benjamin Lee Whorf which describes semantic or syntactic features, that do not have a morphological implementation, but w...
Dechticaetiative language
A dechticaetiative language is a language in which the indirect objects of ditransitive verbs are treated like the direct objects of monotransitive verbs.
A dechticaetiative language is a language in which the indirect objects of ditransitive verbs are treated like the direct objects of monotransitive verbs.
Dependent-marking language
A dependent-marking language is one where the grammatical marks showing relations between different constituents of a phrase tend to be placed on the dependents or modifiers, rather than the hea...
A dependent-marking language is one where the grammatical marks showing relations between different constituents of a phrase tend to be placed on the dependents or modifiers, rather than the hea...
Double-marking language
A double-marking language is one where the grammatical marks showing relations between different constituents of a phrase tend to be placed on both the heads (or nuclei) of the phrase in questio...
A double-marking language is one where the grammatical marks showing relations between different constituents of a phrase tend to be placed on both the heads (or nuclei) of the phrase in questio...
Eurolinguistics
Eurolinguistics is a comparatively young branch of linguistics which deals with questions on the languages of Europe.
Eurolinguistics is a comparatively young branch of linguistics which deals with questions on the languages of Europe.
Head directionality parameter
In linguistics, the head directionality parameter is a proposed parameter that classifies word order according to the placement of heads in phrases.
In linguistics, the head directionality parameter is a proposed parameter that classifies word order according to the placement of heads in phrases.
Head-marking language
A head-marking language is one where the grammatical marks showing relations between different constituents of a phrase tend to be placed on the heads (or nuclei) of the phrase in question, rath...
A head-marking language is one where the grammatical marks showing relations between different constituents of a phrase tend to be placed on the heads (or nuclei) of the phrase in question, rath...
Implicational hierarchy
Implicational hierarchy is a chain of implicational universals.
Implicational hierarchy is a chain of implicational universals.
Incorporation (linguistics)
Incorporation is a phenomenon by which a word, usually a verb, forms a kind of compound with, for instance, its direct object or adverbial modifier, while retaining its original syntactic function.
Incorporation is a phenomenon by which a word, usually a verb, forms a kind of compound with, for instance, its direct object or adverbial modifier, while retaining its original syntactic function.
Linguistic Diversity in Space and Time
One pattern is spread zones (geographical areas where a language family has spread widely, often repeated with several language families in sequence, like Indo-European and later Turkic language...
One pattern is spread zones (geographical areas where a language family has spread widely, often repeated with several language families in sequence, like Indo-European and later Turkic language...
Linguistic typology
Linguistic typology is a subfield of linguistics that studies and classifies languages according to their structural features.
Linguistic typology is a subfield of linguistics that studies and classifies languages according to their structural features.
Linguistic universal
A linguistic universal is a pattern that occurs systematically across natural languages, potentially true for all of them.
A linguistic universal is a pattern that occurs systematically across natural languages, potentially true for all of them.
Milewski's typology
Milewski’s typology is a language classification system proposed in the 1960's by the Polish linguist Tadeusz Milewski.
Milewski’s typology is a language classification system proposed in the 1960's by the Polish linguist Tadeusz Milewski.
Monosyllabic language
A monosyllabic language is a language in which most words predominantly consist of a single syllable.
A monosyllabic language is a language in which most words predominantly consist of a single syllable.
Nominative-absolutive language
A nominative-absolutive language, also called a marked nominative language, is a language with an unusual morphosyntactic alignment similar to, and often considered a subtype of, a nominat...
A nominative-absolutive language, also called a marked nominative language, is a language with an unusual morphosyntactic alignment similar to, and often considered a subtype of, a nominat...
Nominative–absolutive language
A nominative-absolutive language, also called a marked nominative language, is a language with an unusual morphosyntactic alignment similar to, and often considered a subtype of, a nominat...
A nominative-absolutive language, also called a marked nominative language, is a language with an unusual morphosyntactic alignment similar to, and often considered a subtype of, a nominat...
Non-configurational language
Non-configurational languages are languages in which there is no verb phrase constituent.
Non-configurational languages are languages in which there is no verb phrase constituent.
Null subject language
In linguistic typology, a null subject language is a language whose grammar permits an independent clause to lack an explicit subject.
In linguistic typology, a null subject language is a language whose grammar permits an independent clause to lack an explicit subject.
Null-subject language
In linguistic typology, a null subject language is a language whose grammar permits an independent clause to lack an explicit subject.
In linguistic typology, a null subject language is a language whose grammar permits an independent clause to lack an explicit subject.
Oligosynthetic language
An oligosynthetic language (from the Greek ', meaning "few" or "little") is any language using very few morphemes, perhaps only a few hundred, which combine synthetically to form statements.
An oligosynthetic language (from the Greek ', meaning "few" or "little") is any language using very few morphemes, perhaps only a few hundred, which combine synthetically to form statements.
Phono-semantic matching
Phono-semantic matching is a linguistic term referring to camouflaged borrowing in which a foreign word is matched with a phonetically and semantically similar pre-existent native word/root.
Phono-semantic matching is a linguistic term referring to camouflaged borrowing in which a foreign word is matched with a phonetically and semantically similar pre-existent native word/root.
Pipil language (typological overview)
This rather technical article provides a typological sketch of the Pipil language.
This rather technical article provides a typological sketch of the Pipil language.
Pro-drop language
A pro-drop language (from "pronoun-dropping") is a language in which certain classes of pronouns may be omitted when they are in some sense pragmatically inferable (the precise conditions vary f...
A pro-drop language (from "pronoun-dropping") is a language in which certain classes of pronouns may be omitted when they are in some sense pragmatically inferable (the precise conditions vary f...
Relative clause
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun phrase, most commonly a noun.
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun phrase, most commonly a noun.
Scrambling (linguistics)
Scrambling is a common term for pragmatic word order.
Scrambling is a common term for pragmatic word order.
Topic-prominent language
A topic-prominent language is a language that organizes its syntax to emphasize the topic–comment structure of the sentence.
A topic-prominent language is a language that organizes its syntax to emphasize the topic–comment structure of the sentence.
UCLA Phonological Segment Inventory Database
The UCLA Phonological Segment Inventory Database (or UPSID) is a statistical survey of the phoneme inventories in 451 of the world's languages.
The UCLA Phonological Segment Inventory Database (or UPSID) is a statistical survey of the phoneme inventories in 451 of the world's languages.
V2 word order
In syntax, verb-second (V2) word order is the rule in some languages that the second constituent of declarative main clauses is always a verb, while this is not necessarily the case in other typ...
In syntax, verb-second (V2) word order is the rule in some languages that the second constituent of declarative main clauses is always a verb, while this is not necessarily the case in other typ...
Verb framing
In linguistics, verb-framing and satellite-framing are typological descriptions of how verb phrases in different languages describe the path of motion or the manner of motion, resp...
In linguistics, verb-framing and satellite-framing are typological descriptions of how verb phrases in different languages describe the path of motion or the manner of motion, resp...
Zero-marking language
A zero-marking language is one where there tend to be no grammatical marks on either the dependents or modifiers or the heads or nuclei showing the relationship between different constituents of...
A zero-marking language is one where there tend to be no grammatical marks on either the dependents or modifiers or the heads or nuclei showing the relationship between different constituents of...