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Re: Ergative and other questions

From:Andreas Johansson <andjo@...>
Date:Tuesday, November 18, 2003, 0:15
Quoting Roger Mills <romilly@...>:

> Mark J. Reed/John Cowan wrote: > > > On Mon, Nov 17, 2003 at 02:25:03PM -0500, John Cowan wrote: > > > > So the -ee suffix in English is ergative. > > I disagree. The exs. show it is absolutive-- > > >Mike employs Susie. -> Susie is an employee. > Mike has inducted Susie. -> Susie is an inductee. > Mike has appointed Susie. -> Susie is an appointee. > > Susie is the DO. > If you paraphrase, you end up with a passive: Susie is employed etc. by > Mike; ergo, Susie is a patient > > > Susie has retired. -> Susie is a retiree. > Susie has escaped. -> Susie is an escapee. > Susie is standing. -> Susie is a standee. > > Here again, Susie is a patient (or at least subj. of an intr. verb.)
I think you're inventing a new distinction here; "ergative" in this context means identifying P and S rather than A and S. Andreas