Re: THEORY: Ergativity and polypersonalism
| From: | Philip Newton <philip.newton@...> |
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| Date: | Thursday, January 20, 2005, 11:11 |
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On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 08:34:27 +0000, Chris Bates
<chris.maths_student@...> wrote:
> I've heard people argue that Ergative languages can come about by the
> reanalysing of previously more marked (passive usually) structures as
> the standard.
That's what I heard about Polynesian languages. The grammar of Niuean
I have mentions the "passive-to-ergative reanalysis" theory frequently
when hypothesising about how the grammar we now see may have developed
from an earlier form.
Interestingly, some Polynesian languages also have accusative forms
(the famous "-Cia" suffix). (Niuean does not, however, except -- I
believe -- in some fossilised forms.)
Cheers,
--
Philip Newton <philip.newton@...>
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