Re: THEORY: Case systems and Ergativity

Matt>>>>>>
Tom Wier wrote:

>Recently, I've been wondering something about the case
>system I've been building for Phaleran, which is a split
>ergative system.  The question centers around my "diergative"
>case, which is the case for the subject of ditransitive verbs,
>verbs requiring two objects:  what would motivate the
>creation of such a case?
>So, what do y'all think? Does any of this make any sense?
Well, if you're looking for natlang precedents for your
system, I can't think of any.  I know of no languages which
treat ditransitive and transitive verbs differently with
regard to subject case-marking.
<<<<<<

Natlang examples are certainly scarce.  I haven't found any, either.

AFMCL:

Meynian lang uses (I think) the same system which I described (erroneously, as
it turns out) as "a mixed dechticaetative/ergative system".

It works like this, with the standard word order shown:

Intransitive:
The man(S) walks(V)
VS (S in case 1.  V inflected with a separate marker)

Transitive:
The man(S) sees(V) the dog(O)
SVO (S in case 2, O in case 1.  V inflected for S)

Ditransitive:
The man(S) fills(V) the bucket(O) with water(I)
SIVO (S in case 3, I in case 2, O in case 1.  V inflected for I)

Subjectless Passive: (???)
The dog(O) is seen(V)
VO (O in case 4.  V inflected with a separate marker)

Subjectless Passive Ditransitive: (???)
The bucket(O) is filled with water(I)
IVO (I in case 2, O in case 4.  V inflected with a separate marker)

Self-Transitive/Reflexive:
The man(S) sees(V) himself(*O)
VS (S in case 4.  V inflected for S)

Self-Ditransitive(?)/Indirect Reflexive: (???)
The man(S) paints(V) himself(*O) with blood(I)
IVS (S in case 4, I in case 2.  Verb inflected for I)

The case names that I use are currently under a bit of a re-think (I like
"diergative" for case 3, btw), but as they stand at the moment they're:

1 Absolute
2 Ergative
3 Volitive
4 Passive







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