Re: Primary/secondary object systems

Since I keep mentioning swahili I might as well do it again... I think
Swahili probably counts as pretty normal in the way it treats objects,
direct and indirect objects, but I'm not sure.... basically, in a
monotransitive sentence the object follows the verb and there is
optional agreement on the verb. In a ditransitive sentence, you can omit
the indirect object:

napeleka barua
ni-a-pelek-a barua
I:subj-pres-send-indicative letter
I send (a) letter

Or, if you want to mention the indirect object, you can add to the verb
to indicate that an oblique argument (usually beneficiary or indirect
object but not always predictable) is being promoted to the role of
direct object. If you do this then the object agreement on the verb
agrees with the indirect object not the direct object, and the indirect
object if not dropped because of the agreement directly follows the verb
where the direct object normally occurs, with the direct object either
dropped or occuring last, after the indirect object.

nakupelekea barua
ni-a-ku-pelek-e-a barua
I:subj-pres-you:obj-send-obl:promotion-indicative letter
I send you a letter

Since I'm still learning I might have made a mistake in the examples....
sorry.