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 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, 2024

Elision in Dangme

Regina Oforiwah Caesar, Mathias Sackitey

Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):1-38.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.1

This paper examines elision in Dangme, a Kwa language spoken in parts of the Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta Regions of Ghana. The paper aims at accounting for vocalic, consonantal and syllabic deletions in Dangme. This study is formalized within the Autosegmental theoretical framework with tools like association lines linking segments to their CV tiers and also delinking tools showing segmental and syllabic deletions where applicable. The study shows that in Dangme, syllabic and segmental elision is realized within a lexical item, a morpheme ...
Article

Mar 31, 2024

Adverbial Clause Construction in Dobbi

Netsuhe Zerihun Hassen, Desalaegn Hagos Asfawwesen

Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):39-67.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.39

This article focuses on adverbial clause construction in Dobbi language. Dobbi is a member of the Ethio-Semitic subgroup within the Gurage language family which is mostly spoken in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR). Dobbi is one of the least researched and documented languages in the Gurage language family, which is why this study is being done. It is important to note that this study lacks any theoretical foundation, and its data analysis strictly adheres to a descriptive approach. The study relies on the parti...
Article

Mar 31, 2024

Typology of Constituent Focus in a West African Language: A Minimalist Analysis

Emmanuel Ọmọniyì Ọláńrewájú

Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):69-98.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.69

This paper investigated the syntax of focus constructions in Yorùbá detailing the strategy, devices and methods employed for them. Ten (10) native speakers aged 60 and above were purposively selected for structured oral interview based on their proficiency. Data were subjected to syntactic analysis using Rizzi’s Split CP Hypothesis of the Minimalist Program. Yorùbá operates ex-situ strategy as the syntactic device to form its focus constructions. A focused constituent is copied to the specifier position of the focus phrase (spec FocP) t...
Article

Mar 31, 2024

AI Chatbots and Linguistic Injustice

Sunyoung Park

Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):99-119.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.99

The rise of AI-powered language technologies, exemplified by products like DeepL and ChatGPT, has propelled the advancements towards widespread acceptance, integrating them into daily communication and professional routines. This transformation holds significant implications for social interactions and knowledge dissemination. However, the dominance of these technologies poses challenges, particularly for non-native English speakers. This dominance not only limits information access for non-native English speakers but also risks fostering a mon...

CURRENT ISSUE: Mar 2024, Vol. 25 , No. 1

Article Elision in Dangme Regina Oforiwah Caesar, Mathias Sackitey Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):1-38. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Adverbial Clause Construction in Dobbi Netsuhe Zerihun Hassen, Desalaegn Hagos Asfawwesen Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):39-67. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.39 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Typology of Constituent Focus in a West African Language: A Minimalist Analysis Emmanuel Ọmọniyì Ọláńrewájú Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):69-98. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.69 HTML PDF PubReader	Article AI Chatbots and Linguistic Injustice Sunyoung Park Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):99-119. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.99 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 Journal of Universal Language 2016;17(2):111-143. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2016.17.2.111 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 1340	Article The Pragmatic Functions of Some Morphological Structures in Nzema Proverbs Mohammed Yakub, Yvonne A. A. Ollennu, Cephas Delalorm Journal of Universal Language 2021;22(2):145-180. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2021.22.2.145 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 1032
Article A Lexicostatistics Comparison of Standard Yorùbá, Àkúrẹ́ and Ìkàrẹ́ Àkókó Dialects Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo, Olamide Oluwaseun Lagunju Journal of Universal Language 2019;20(2):1-27. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2019.20.2.1 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 823	Article Hypotheses on the Diachronic Development of the Akan Language Group Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah Journal of Universal Language 2016;17(1):1-51. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2016.17.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 585
Article Aramaic as a Lingua Franca During the Persian Empire (538-333 B.C.E.) Chul-hyun Bae Journal of Universal Language 2004;5(1):1-20. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2004.5.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 580	Article Adverbial Clause Construction in Dobbi Netsuhe Zerihun Hassen, Desalaegn Hagos Asfawwesen Journal of Universal Language 2024;25(1):39-67. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2024.25.1.39 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 526
Article Languages and Universals David Odden Journal of Universal Language 2003;4(1):33-74. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2003.4.1.33 HTML PDF PubReader Last 3 months views: 505	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 Last 3 months views: 504

MOST CITED ARTICLE

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 11
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 11	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 9
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 Languages and Universals David Odden Journal of Universal Language 2003;4(1):33-74. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2003.4.1.33 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 8
Article The Adaptation of French Consonant Clusters in Vietnamese Phonology: An OT Account Huynh Trang Nguyen, Hemanga Dutta Journal of Universal Language 2017;18(1):69-103. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2017.18.1.69 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 8	Article Articles in Natural Languages and Artificial Languages Sunyoung Park, Jin-young Tak Journal of Universal Language 2017;18(1):105-127. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2017.18.1.105 HTML PDF PubReader Cited by 8