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, universality in language, typology, and communication & culture in language usage. 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, 2022

Metathesis in Syrian Arabic: Types and Conditioning Factors

Rania Habib

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):1-34.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.1

This study explores metathesis in Syrian Arabic (SyA). The data reveal two types of metatheses. Type-I is phonologically conditioned, involving at least one of the four root consonants, ʒ, f, ʕ and ћ with the fricatives (z, s), liquids (l, r) or gutturals (q/ʔ) in specific positions within the root regardless of word derivation. Type-II is morpho-phonologically conditioned, involving Standard Arabic reflexive Pattern VIII, (ʔi)ftaʕal, that resulted histor...
Article

Mar 31, 2022

The Structure, Classification and Functions of the Nzema Noun Phrase

John Nyame, Charles Ebule

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):35-76.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.35

The paper examines the structure, classification and functions of the Nzema noun phrase (NP). The data that have been analysed in this study include a collection of told stories, extracts from the Nzema Bible, a grammar text, a novel and a drama text. The paper shows that the NP in Nzema is made up of the head (H), which could be a noun, a pronominal and several elements such as nouns, adjectives, a determiner and numeral which serve as modifiers. Modifiers can come before or after the head noun. NPs in Nzema can be classified as simple, compou...
Article

Mar 31, 2022

Lexical Repetition and Syntactic Parallelism in Selected Political Essays of Niyi Osundare and Ray Ekpu

Ayo Ogunsiji, Isaiah Aluya

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):77-107.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.77

This paper examines lexical repetition and syntactic parallelism in selected political essays of Niyi Osundare and Ray Ekpu, which have been relatively underexplored, in order to determine how they have been deployed to represent Nigeria’s socio-political concerns as well as the points of convergence and divergence in the use of these devices by both writers. M.A.K Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar served as the framework. Eighteen (18) essays were purposively sampled; 9 each from Osundare and Ekpu’s publications in Newswatch...
Article

Mar 31, 2022

Typological Analysis of Articles in World Languages

Sunyoung Park

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):109-127.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.109

A number of second and third language acquisition studies have been conducted on the acquisition of articles in order to examine the learnabilities of the feature from various L1 backgrounds, such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Turkish among many others. Numerous studies have revealed ongoing difficulties of acquiring (in)definite articles by L2 and L3 language learners even at the most advanced stages of acquisition. Considering the issue of learnabilities of articles, it would be interesting and meaningful to investigate how ...
Article

Mar 31, 2022

Symmetry as Iconicity: The Lexicalizations of ‘Breasts’

Vladimir Borissov Pericliev

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):129-145.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.129

A word is said to be iconic if there is a perceived similarity between its form and its meaning. Research on lexical iconicity has shown that it pervades most sections of vocabulary structure but is scarce in regards to mimicking abstract properties of referents. In this paper, we propose the abstract property of symmetry as iconic, illustrating it with the lexicalizations of the meaning ‘(woman’s) breasts’ in world languages. Statistical analysis shows that the frequency of symmetric lexemes corresponding to the symmetri...
Article

Mar 31, 2022

Diminutives in Yangxin Gan

Lysander Schleh

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):147-166.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.147

Diminutives, long an area of interest for researchers in phonology and morphology, are typically formed by the suffixation of a diminutive affix onto a root word and denote the smallness or youthfulness of whatever is referred to. In Yangxin Gan, a dialect of Gan spoken in southern Hubei, China, diminutive forms are highly variable. They may be formed by the addition of a diminutive morpheme, the insertion of a high-rising tone, insertion of a nasal or change in vowel quality. The latter three processes may simultaneously apply in cases where t...
Article

Mar 31, 2022

Book Review: Impossible Languages

Amir Ghorbanpour

Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):167-177.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.167

CURRENT ISSUE: Mar 2022, Vol. 23 , No. 1

Article Metathesis in Syrian Arabic: Types and Conditioning Factors Rania Habib Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):1-34. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader	Article The Structure, Classification and Functions of the Nzema Noun Phrase John Nyame, Charles Ebule Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):35-76. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.35 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Lexical Repetition and Syntactic Parallelism in Selected Political Essays of Niyi Osundare and Ray Ekpu Ayo Ogunsiji, Isaiah Aluya Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):77-107. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.77 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Typological Analysis of Articles in World Languages Sunyoung Park Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):109-127. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.109 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Symmetry as Iconicity: The Lexicalizations of ‘Breasts’ Vladimir Borissov Pericliev Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):129-145. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.129 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Diminutives in Yangxin Gan Lysander Schleh Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):147-166. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.147 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Book Review: Impossible Languages Amir Ghorbanpour Journal of Universal Language 2022;23(1):167-177. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2022.23.1.167 HTML PDF PubReader

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