Re: yet another new lang sketch (sorry)
| From: | Lars Henrik Mathiesen <thorinn@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Sunday, October 31, 1999, 21:09 |
|---|
> Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 13:53:17 -0500
> From: Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...>
> "J. Barefoot" wrote:
> > Mixed ergative/accustive, and the ergative form happens to be the same as
> > the genitive form. The subject of this sentence is in the relative case
> > because it has a direct object.
>
> What is relative case, if not ergative?
Relative case is a case that serves as both ergative and genitive.
A natlang case is the Inuit languages, which have only two noun cases,
absolute and relative (except for a small closed class of nominals).
Moreover, the relative case governs the same agreement morphemes for
both 'functions' (as we see it) --- it has 'genitive' function if the
agreement goes on another noun, and 'ergative' function if it goes on
a verb form.
BTW, if I knew enough to translate into it, I'd nominate some Inuit
language for the T-shirt.
Lars Mathiesen (U of Copenhagen CS Dep) <thorinn@...> (Humour NOT marked)