Re: THEORY: Cases of Core Arguments in Clauses with Three Core Arguments

Random thoughts/comments:

Tom wrote:
<<
(I don't think the "malefactive" case is grammatically different from
the "benefactive" case; is it?  Maybe someone knows of a counter-
example.)
 >>

Yes, it is different.  Lots of languages mark it.  Not a majority,
by any means, but a strong minority.

Tom:
<<
Finally;
Once Leonardo finishes the painting, whose painting is it?
Is it the Pope's painting, because he paid for it, and it was painted
at his behest?
Is it Leonardo's painting, because he created it?
Is it the Duchess's painting, because it is her likeness, and she sat
for it?
Is it the Duke's painting, because it was done for his benefit, as a
gift for him?
Is it all of the above?
 >>

In English, it's all of theirs.  Our possessives don't discriminate.
Other languages' do.  Will there be a language that distinguishes
all five (disregarding the last one)?  It's doubtful.  But I've been
surprised before.

Tom:
<<
(ii) Does anyone know of a systematic treatment of the above phenomena?
 >>

I can tell you about an unsystematic treatment.  In Moro, you
can do whatever "makes sense".  What makes sense?  That's a
bit tough.

In these sentences:
<<
3) "The Pope paid Leonardo for the Duke."
4) "The Pope paid 100 ducats for the Duke."
5) "Leonardo painted a portrait for the Duke."
 >>

"For the duke" would in each sentence would be marked with
a preposition.  The other arguments would be unmarked (except
for "Leonardo" which would get a special objective tag).  In the
sentence:

"The Pope paid Leonardo 100 ducats for the Duke."

All the marking would be the same, but the word order would
be frozen.  If you switched it, you should get that the Pope paid
a Leonardo to a sentient 100 ducats.  However, that turns out
not to be the case, because the semantic burden is too great.  So
even if you switch it you still get the same reading.

If you're looking for a language that systematically marks
everything differently, I think you'll have to go to an unnatural
one like Lojban.  Even Zhyler with its oh-too-many noun cases
has some syncretism here.

-David
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