Journal of Universal Language

About Journal of Universal Language

The Sejong University Language Research Institute was established in 1996 under the name "World Language Research Institute," following a visionary proposal by its founder, Dr. Myung-Gun Choo. The institute has since been dedicated to addressing linguistic imbalances and the resulting social inequalities through its research and initiatives. The Journal of Universal Language is an international research journal and it is published by the Language Research Institute at Sejong University biannually. The goal of the Journal of Universal Language is to foster, present, and disseminate interdisciplinary research concentrating on universal languages. Language barriers have long played a major role in social and political conflicts around the world, and we believe that the development of a universal language is the key to easing tensions. We welcome theoretical and empirical papers that explore various dimensions of natural languages and the need for a universal language. In this regard, the JUL is multidisciplinary in nature and invites scholars from different fields, including but not limited to general, applied, and interdisciplinary linguistics, language policy, terminology, artificial languages, philosophy, sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, law, politics, religion, translation, economics, and business.
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, 2025

Symbolism as Meaning Strategy in Tanure Ojaide’s Poetry: A Linguistic Approach

Hamzah Abdurraheem

Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):1-36.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.1

This paper examined animal symbolism in three collections of poetry written by Tanure Ojaide, namely, The Fate of Vulture and Other Poems, Delta Blues and Home Songs and The Tale of the Harmattan. Data for analysis were twenty-one (21) poems purposively selected from the three collections, using a linguistic approach as the theoretical framework. Findings from the study revealed that through the predominant use of material verbs and few instances of mental processes, Ojaide uses the actions and activities of bo...
Article

Mar 31, 2025

Typological and Universal Influences on the Acquisition of Alternating Unaccusative Constructions: A Study of Moroccan EFL Learners

Khalid Elasri, Rachid Ed-Dali, Najib Bouhout

Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):37-67.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.37

This study investigates how MA learners of English interpret AUC, focusing on the interaction between universal syntactic principles and typological differences. Within the framework of UG, AUC universally lacks an external argument and selects a single internal argument. However, cross-linguistic variation exists in how AUC is morphologically marked. Unlike English, MA relies on overt morphological markers to show alternation. These typological differences may influence MA learners’ judgments of English AUC. An acceptability judgment task wa...
Article

Mar 31, 2025

Resolving Pronoun Ambiguity: Comparing Bible Translations in English and an Artificial Auxiliary Language

Eunjung Lee, Silo Chin

Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):69-99.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.69

This study explores pronoun ambiguity in English discourse, focusing on translation strategies in both natural and artificial languages. Pronouns contribute significantly to textual cohesion, yet they often introduce ambiguity when antecedents are distant, implicit, or when multiple referents are present. Through a comparative analysis of Bible translations—including the KJV, NIV, NIRV, and the artificial auxiliary language Unish—this paper examines how different translations manage pronoun clarity. The NIRV and Unish, both targeting non-na...
Article

Mar 31, 2025

What is It?

Haiyong Liu

Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):101-132.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.101

Using data pertaining to pronominal usages from Chinese, French, German and other languages, I argue that the dummy subject or the expletive pronoun it and the third-person singular pronoun it are actually the same syntactic placeholder in English. They are not accidental homonyms. Instead, they both function as expletives to satisfy the Extended Projection Principle, ban against null non-generic objects, and the Animacy Hierarchy. I also propose that the English gender-neutral inanimate pronoun it
Article

Mar 31, 2025

Language Planning in Curriculum Review and Harmonisation of Courses in African Tertiary Institutions

Afsat Sanni-Suleiman

Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):133-158.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.133

Many decades after independence, most African countries have continued to make use of the curriculum put in place by their former colonial masters. Though, it would be erroneous to say that no change has occurred in the content of the curriculum of African schools, the fact still remains that the curriculum adopted at our various levels of education are fraught with imported ideas that are alien to the steady development of Africa. Education is, and remains the most veritable tool for national development and transformation. To move Africa forw...

CURRENT ISSUE: Mar 2025, Vol. 26 , No. 1

Article Symbolism as Meaning Strategy in Tanure Ojaide’s Poetry: A Linguistic Approach Hamzah Abdurraheem Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):1-36. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Typological and Universal Influences on the Acquisition of Alternating Unaccusative Constructions: A Study of Moroccan EFL Learners Khalid Elasri, Rachid Ed-Dali, Najib Bouhout Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):37-67. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.37 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Resolving Pronoun Ambiguity: Comparing Bible Translations in English and an Artificial Auxiliary Language Eunjung Lee, Silo Chin Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):69-99. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.69 HTML PDF PubReader	Article What is It? Haiyong Liu Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):101-132. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.101 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Language Planning in Curriculum Review and Harmonisation of Courses in African Tertiary Institutions Afsat Sanni-Suleiman Journal of Universal Language 2025;26(1):133-158. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2025.26.1.133 HTML PDF PubReader

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Article The Fall and Rise of Universals on Relativization Mark De Vries Journal of Universal Language 2005;6(1):125-157. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2005.6.1.125 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 13	Article The European Union’s Need for an International Auxiliary Language Federico Gobbo Journal of Universal Language 2005;6(1):1-28. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2005.6.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 12
Article Subject–verb Inversion in Greek: Implications for Head Movement and Typology George Kotzoglou Journal of Universal Language 2006;7(1):91-137. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2006.7.1.91 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 12	Article A Comparison of Unish Grammar with Esperanto Dong-Young Lee Journal of Universal Language 2002;3(2):57-74. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2002.3.2.57 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 10
Article A Typological Study of Tonal Systems of Japanese and Prinmi: Towards a Definition of Pitch-accent Languages Picus Sizhi Ding Journal of Universal Language 2006;7(2):1-35. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2006.7.2.1 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 9	Article Multilingualism, Social Inequality, and the Need for a Universal Language Sunyoung Park Journal of Universal Language 2023;24(1):77-93. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2023.24.1.77 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 9
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