Re: Non-accusative, non-ergative, non-active
| From: | John Cowan <jcowan@...> |
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| Date: | Monday, March 11, 2002, 1:55 |
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Jim Grossmann scripsit:
> There are "split-ergative" languages, in which S & O are marked the same way
> sometimes, and S & A are marked in the same way at other times, depending on
> a number of possible factors, including the semantic properties of the noun
> or verb. (See Dixon for details.)
IIRC there are no 100% ergative languages; technically they are all
split-ergative.
> By the way, I've frequently been confused by the use of the term "active"
> language on this list. Could anyone define "active language" for me?
It's what you called "semantic marking".
--
John Cowan <jcowan@...> http://www.reutershealth.com
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
han mathon ne chae, a han noston ne 'wilith. --Galadriel, _LOTR:FOTR_