Journal of Universal Language

About Journal of Universal Language

The Journal of Universal Language is an international research journal and it is published by the Language Research Institute at Sejong University biannually. The Journal of Universal Language is concerned with artificial languages, communication & culture in language usage, typology, and universality in language. The journal also publishes interdisciplinary contributions written with applied linguists in mind, observation concerning official language. Following the May 1996 inaugural issue of the journal, the second issue was published in May 2001. Since then the journal has been published biannually. The journal index includes KCI, EBSCO, MLA, Linguistics Abstracts Online, BRILL, DBpia, and Google Scholar. The spring and autumn editions are published respectively on March 31 and September 30. Manuscripts submissions are accepted year round.
About Language Research Institute, Sejong University

The Language Research Institute at Sejong University was founded for theoretical and practical research on various modes of language usage as well as to provide a forum for discussions on the nature of language. The institute is particularly interested in the development of a universal language and its related fields. The institute also offers an opportunity for the exchange of ideas between researchers of various view points by holding seminars on language-related areas including general linguistics, artificial languages, and universality in language.
Article

Mar 31, 2020

Transitivity and Case Assignment in Ígálâ

Salem Ochala Ejeba

J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):1-27.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.1

Insight on transitivity is derived cross-linguistically in terms of description of formal and functional features in the morphosyntax of token languages. This paper on transitivity and case assignment in Ígálâ describes transitivity in the language from both formal and functional accounts. Structurally, transitive features of a syntactic string are checked off via the ordering of arguments after the verb and features of agreement appear between verbs and their objects to validate the object status of arguments in object position. The func...
Article

Mar 31, 2020

Monophthongization in the Adaptation of Selected English Loanwords in Yorùbá: A Constraint-Based Analysis

Mayowa Emmanuel Oyinloye

J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):29-67.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.29

English loanwords are adapted in Yorùbá via various processes such as deletion, insertion, spirantization, and (de)voicing. This paper examined the category of English loanwords adaptation involving the process of monophthongization using Optimality Theory. The large chunks of the data analysed in the paper were obtained by observation and from the extant literature, and were then subjected to content analysis. The study discovered two broad patterns of monophthongization: simple and complex, the latter being further divided into doubling an...
Article

Mar 31, 2020

Examining the Irregularities of Articles and Introducing Minimized NP Systems in Unish

Sunyoung Park, Silo Chin

J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):69-88.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.69

The current research carefully reviews article systems in existing natural and artificial languages. It also shows various denotations of article systems in a series of languages, arguing that irregularities of article use across the languages pose ongoing difficulties to language learners. The current study suggests that the Unish language is advantageous to learn in terms of the article system because it only marks specificity, which can be argued to be minimally represented by not incorporating external interfaces. The current study claims t...
Article

Mar 31, 2020

An Acoustic Study of Fundamental Frequency and Pauses in Depressive Teenagers in Thailand: A Pilot Study

Phanintra Teeranon

J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):89-111.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.89

Depression is a major public health problem among Thais. It has been reported that 30% of 70 million people living in Thailand suffer from depression. Suicide is a potential end result from mental illness, which normally involves depression. Diagnosis and treatment are key factors in the prevention of depression. In traditional diagnosis, there are two key methods of testing: (i) a screening test and interview and (ii) a biomarker test. In recent years, detecting depression with speech—a kind of biomarker test— has gained high acceptance. C...

CURRENT ISSUE: Mar 2020, Vol. 21 , No. 1

Article Transitivity and Case Assignment in Ígálâ Salem Ochala Ejeba J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):1-27. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Monophthongization in the Adaptation of Selected English Loanwords in Yorùbá: A Constraint-Based Analysis Mayowa Emmanuel Oyinloye J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):29-67. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.29 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Examining the Irregularities of Articles and Introducing Minimized NP Systems in Unish Sunyoung Park, Silo Chin J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):69-88. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.69 HTML PDF PubReader	Article An Acoustic Study of Fundamental Frequency and Pauses in Depressive Teenagers in Thailand: A Pilot Study Phanintra Teeranon J. Univers. Lang. 2020;21(1):89-111. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2020.21.1.89 HTML PDF PubReader

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