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Re: ergative? I don't know...

From:Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...>
Date:Friday, October 23, 1998, 6:50
Clinton Moreland-Stringham wrote:
> 1. Agent (AGT): entity which performs an activity or brings about > a change of state (e.g. the crowg-AGT applauded.)
What about "the old man hit the young boy"? What case would "man" be in?
> 2. Patient (PAT): entity which- is viewed as existing in a state > or undergoing change; viewed a slocated or moving; viewed as affected or > effected by an entity (e.g. the sky-PAT is blue, the cat-PAT is in the > house, or the bird ate the worm-PAT)
Again, what would "the bird" be in? Would it be agentive?
> 3. Experiencer (EXP) entity which experiences as emotion or > perception OR an Agent (fm above) which acts unitnentionally (e.g. > They-EXP love music or He-EXP fell (on accident)).
Okay, so what is "he fell" (deliberately)? It looks to me like it's some sort of active system (i.e., neither ergative or accusative). -- "It's bad manners to talk about ropes in the house of a man whose father was hanged." - Irish proverb http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/Conlang/W.html ICQ: 18656696 AOL: NikTailor