Case names in Thagojian

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Thagojian is Split-S -- that is, it has a split between Ergative and Accusative verbs
based on the lexical meaning of the verb (rather than the semantics of the
situation). For instance "hunt" is always Nominative, and "be/make red" is
always Ergative.

There are three cases, one used for Sa and A, one used for Sp and P, and one used
for all O roles (and possession), which are differentiated by adpositions.
Actually, the situation with adpositions is a tiny bit more complicated than
that, since verbs of motion may take either a location or a target, and
(inspired by German) adpos+P marks locations, and adpos+O marks targets. That's
irrelevant to the main point of the question, but possibly worth knowing.

The name for the O case was obvious: Oblique. However, I have been struggling for
some time to come up with names for the two S cases. Nominative and Accusative
seemed just as wrong as Ergative and Absolutive. I tried mixing names from each
pair, to no avail.

I spend some time rolling the meaning of the Erg/Nom split around in my brain,
and I have come up with Initiator and Undergoer, though I'd prefer to find some
more "scholarly" names for them. "Ergative" seems like a good candidate,
etymologically, for the Initiator case, which is sort of a shame, but I can
accept it. I'm completely lost for names of the Undergoer case. Suggestions,
please? (Anyone saying "Accusative" will be taken outside and shot).



Thanks,




Paul

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