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Re: cases

From:H. S. Teoh <hsteoh@...>
Date:Sunday, December 1, 2002, 20:32
On Sun, Dec 01, 2002 at 09:17:46PM +0100, Christophe Grandsire wrote:
[snip]
> Ergative systems are different from accusative systems only for the two > main cases used for the subject and the object of a verb. In fact, you > can understand things by thinking in terms of roles: the subject of an > intransitive verb (S), the subject of a transitive verb (A, for agent) > and the object of a transitive verb (P, for patient). > Nominative-accusative languages group S and A together (nominative), and > put P alone (accusative). On the other hand, ergative languages use the > same case for S and P (absolutive) and leave A alone (ergative). And of > course, there are those languages called active which treat S, A and P > all differently :)) . And the image is more blurred by languages which > seem to use different systems depending on whether the subject is > animate, willing, etc... :))) . But for a simple image just take what I > said before.
Wow. This simple explanation for accusative/ergative/active is probably the clearest (in layman's terms) I've read so far. I think I'm actually beginning to understand it. :-P
> If you want an example of a purely ergative language, look at my Azak, > it's on my webpage. It also has quite a lot of cases, so you can see > what can be used ;))) . And for a language which uses cases in quite > strange ways, look at my Moten ;))) .
[snip] In what way is Moten's cases "strange"? Just curious to know how it compares to Ebisedian. ;-) (OK, so it's on your webpage... but what's the URL?) T -- If it ain't broke, hit it again. -- Foon

Replies

Christophe Grandsire <christophe.grandsire@...>
daniel andreasson <danielandreasson@...>