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

Sep 30, 2019

A Lexicostatistics Comparison of Standard Yorùbá, Àkúrẹ́ and Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó Dialects

Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo, Olamide Oluwaseun Lagunju

J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):1-27.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.1

This paper studied the differences and similarities in the lexicon of Standard Yoruba, Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó and Àkúrẹ́ dialects. We examined the lexicostatistics comparison of the lexicons in Standard Yorùbá, Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó and Àkúrẹ́ dialects. The paper aims at determining the level of mutual intelligibility in Standard Yorùbá, Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó and Àkúrẹ́ speech forms. The objectives of this study were: (i) to find out the areas of similarities and differences of the lexical items of the dialects, (ii) to examine the p...
Article

Sep 30, 2019

Typological Comparison of Relativization in Amharic and Ezha

Endalew Assefa

J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):29-52.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.29

This article describes the structure of relative clauses in the Amharic and Ezha Languages thereby making typological comparison between the two languages. Both headed and headless relative clauses are attested in both languages. A headed relative clause in both languages is found to be prenominal as the clause precedes the head noun that is to be modified. With reference to both headed and headless relative clause types, constituents which relate to a subject, direct and indirect object, oblique, and possessor noun are found to be relativized ...
Article

Sep 30, 2019

A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Dangme Allusive Names

Regina Oforiwah Caesar

J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):53-93.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.53

The paper investigates the morphosyntactic features of Dangme allusive names. Dangme belongs to the Kwa family of languages. It is spoken in two Regions of Ghana. As in other cultures, the people of Dangme consider naming as an important aspect of their culture. Allusive names are names based on ideas and beliefs of parents and family members. It is believed that allusive names also have elements of insinuation, and can reflect the mind and emotions of the namer (s) and also have an effect (positive or negative) on the named. This paper discuss...
Article

Sep 30, 2019

Loanword Syllable Adaptation in Persian: An Optimality-Theoretic Account

Amir Ghorbanpour, Aliyeh K. Z. Kambuziya, Mohammad Dabir-Moghaddam, Ferdows Agha-Golzadeh

J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):95-127.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.95

The present paper examines the process of loanword syllable adaptation in tetrasyllabic words in Persian, within an Optimality-theoretic framework. In Persian, consonant clusters are avoided in onset position. As a result, the loanwords borrowed from other languages which have complex onsets, when introduced into Persian, are adapted to fit the syllable structure of the target language. When placed word-initially, the onset cluster is generally resolved by the insertion of an epenthetic vowel. However, this vowel epenthesis occurs in a split pa...

CURRENT ISSUE: Sep 2019, Vol. 20 , No. 2

Article A Lexicostatistics Comparison of Standard Yorùbá, Àkúrẹ́ and Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó Dialects Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo, Olamide Oluwaseun Lagunju J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):1-27. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.1 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Typological Comparison of Relativization in Amharic and Ezha Endalew Assefa J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):29-52. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.29 HTML PDF PubReader
Article A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Dangme Allusive Names Regina Oforiwah Caesar J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):53-93. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.53 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Loanword Syllable Adaptation in Persian: An Optimality-Theoretic Account Amir Ghorbanpour, Aliyeh K. Z. Kambuziya, Mohammad Dabir-Moghaddam, Ferdows Agha-Golzadeh J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):95-127. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.95 HTML PDF PubReader

MOST READ ARTICLE

Article Language Preference as a Precursor to Displacement and Extinction in Nigeria: The Roles of English Language and Nigerian Pidgin Joseph Babasola Osoba, Tajudeen Afolabi Alebiosu J. Univers. Lang. 2016;17(2):111-143. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2016.17.2.111 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 871	Article A Lexicostatistics Comparison of Standard Yorùbá, Àkúrẹ́ and Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó Dialects Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo, Olamide Oluwaseun Lagunju J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):1-27. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.1 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 541
Article The Syntactic Position of Negative Markers in Idoma and Tiv: A Deviation from Language Universal Validity Issa Olarongbei Sanusi, Lydia Damilola Oyewole J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(1):77-98. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.1.77 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 398	Article A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Dangme Allusive Names Regina Oforiwah Caesar J. Univers. Lang. 2019;20(2):53-93. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.53 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 387
Article Plural Formation Strategies in Ígálà Johnson Fọlọrunṣọ Ilọri J. Univers. Lang. 2015;16(1):49-86. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2015.16.1.49 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 328	Article Grammatical and Pragmatic Aspects of Polarity in Arabic Seditious Utterances Reda Ali Hassan Mahmoud J. Univers. Lang. 2016;17(2):21-51. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2016.17.2.21 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 312
Article The Mathematical Operations in Bàtɔ̀nū Numeral System Issa O. Sanusi, Lateefat Oluwatosin Yusuf J. Univers. Lang. 2018;19(1):57-84. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2018.19.1.57 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 299	Article Analysis of Discourse in Nigerian Pidgin Joseph Babasola Osoba J. Univers. Lang. 2015;16(1):131-159. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2015.16.1.131 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 299

MOST CITED ARTICLE

Article Subject–verb Inversion in Greek: Implications for Head Movement and Typology George Kotzoglou J. Univers. Lang. 2006;7(1):91-137. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2006.7.1.91 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 7	Article The European Union’s Need for an International Auxiliary Language Federico Gobbo J. Univers. Lang. 2005;6(1):1-28. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2005.6.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 7
Article A Comparison of Unish Grammar with Esperanto Dong-Young Lee J. Univers. Lang. 2002;3(2):57-74. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2002.3.2.57 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 6	Article Languages and Universals David Odden J. Univers. Lang. 2003;4(1):33-74. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2003.4.1.33 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 6
Article Internal and External Forces in Typology: Evidence from Iranian Languages Mohammad Dabir-Moghaddam J. Univers. Lang. 2006;7(1):29-47. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2006.7.1.29 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 5	Article From Demonstratives to Copulas: A Cross-Linguistic Perspective and the Case of Polish Paweł Rutkowski J. Univers. Lang. 2006;7(2):147-175. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2006.7.2.147 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 5
Article Learning Linguistics by Doing: The Secret Virtues of a Language Constructed in the Classroom Federico Gobbo J. Univers. Lang. 2013;14(2):113-135. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2013.14.2.113 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 5	Article The Prospects for an International Language Andrew Large J. Univers. Lang. 1996;1(1):20-34. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.1996.1.1.20 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 5