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, 2026

When Linguistic Hierarchy Becomes Infrastructure: AI, Language, and the Reconfiguration of Linguistic Imperialism

Silo Chin

Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):1-25.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.1

Recent advances in AI translation and LLMs have generated expectations that computational systems may broaden access to global knowledge. Multilingual pretrained models process and generate text across dozens of languages, expanding linguistic coverage in contemporary NLP systems and potentially reducing barriers that have historically favored dominant languages in education, publishing, and global communication. Despite these developments, expanded coverage does not entail structural equivalence among languages. Research in multilingual NLP do...
Article

Mar 31, 2026

A Typology of Gameplay Terminology in Hybrid-Genre Video Games: Evidence from the Korean Translation of Immortals of Aveum

Jung Yon Kim

Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):27-62.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.27

Digital games present distinctive challenges for translation, as gameplay terminology must simultaneously support player interaction and contribute to fictional world building. This study examines how gameplay terminology in the hybrid genre game Immortals of Aveum is translated into Korean. Drawing on Pettini’s framework for digital game terminology, the analysis classifies terms into three conceptual categories: realia, irrealia, and hybrid terminology. A dataset of gameplay-related terms extracted from the Korean translati...
Article

Mar 31, 2026

Onomatopoeia in Maithili: A Correspondence Analysis in Optimality Theory

Priyeshi Kumari, Somdev Kar

Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):63-98.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.63

The linguistic phenomenon of onomatopoeia, which mimics natural sounds, enriches language’s expressiveness and exhibits consistent patterns across human languages. This study analyzes onomatopoeia in Maithili, a language that is spoken in the Mithila region of India and the Terai region of Nepal. The data collected in the field from native speakers of Maithili served as the primary data source, and a raw corpus of Maithili served as the secondary data source, providing a comprehensive list of onomatopoeic expressions in this language. The met...
Article

Mar 31, 2026

Typology of Lexical Choices in Nigerian Pidgin Political Headlines: Evidence from BBC News

Maria Mbursa Salihu, Ijudigal Clement Satumari, Amina Salisu Aliyu

Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):99-143.
https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.99

This paper investigates the lexico-semantic role of Pidgin in political headlines published by BBC News, with the aim of identifying lexical choices and language use in the media. Using a mixed design within the framework of SFG, the study analysed 10 purposively selected headlines drawn from 105 BBC news articles published between January and June 2025. The headlines construct reality through five categories, such as government policies, legislative activities, political party announcements, political controversies and conflicts, or legal case...

CURRENT ISSUE: Mar 2026, Vol. 27 , No. 1

Article When Linguistic Hierarchy Becomes Infrastructure: AI, Language, and the Reconfiguration of Linguistic Imperialism Silo Chin Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):1-25. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.1 HTML PDF PubReader	Article A Typology of Gameplay Terminology in Hybrid-Genre Video Games: Evidence from the Korean Translation of Immortals of Aveum Jung Yon Kim Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):27-62. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.27 HTML PDF PubReader
Article Onomatopoeia in Maithili: A Correspondence Analysis in Optimality Theory Priyeshi Kumari, Somdev Kar Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):63-98. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.63 HTML PDF PubReader	Article Typology of Lexical Choices in Nigerian Pidgin Political Headlines: Evidence from BBC News Maria Mbursa Salihu, Ijudigal Clement Satumari, Amina Salisu Aliyu Journal of Universal Language 2026;27(1):99-143. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2026.27.1.99 HTML PDF PubReader

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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 15	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 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 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 11
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 10	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 Cited by 10
Article The Word Order of Estonian: Implications to Universal Language Martin Ehala Journal of Universal Language 2006;7(1):49-89. https://doi.org/10.22425/jul.2006.7.1.49 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