Re: THEORY: accusativity marking [was Re: Viko Notes Question]

Philip Newton wrote:
> Wouldn't that have to be "Los perros gustan a Juan", without the "le"?
> As I understand it, the "le" is to mark the subject-object reversal and
> wouldn't be required if the order is the normal one.
"Le" indicates that there's an indirect object.  It can be used with
normal order.  According to my Spanish Reference Grammar:

A redundant pronoun is normally inserted to show that a noun is
"involved", by the verb in one of the ways listed in List A at 12.3
(i.e., "receiving", "losing", "advantage", "involvement", etc.*):

Esta solución *le* pareció a doña Matilde la más acertada
This solution seemed to be the best one to Doña Matilde
Bueno, si no *le* dicen a uno cómo hay quen hacerlo ...
Well, if they don't tell one how to do it ...
A vos *te* la tienen jurada
They've got it in for you
*Le* puso un nuevo conmutador a la radio
He put a new knob on the radio
Tráiga*le* un jugo de naranja a la niña
Bring the little girl an orange juice
Note
Omission of the redundant pronoun depersonalizes the indirect object and
would be appropriate in formal writing, official documents or business
letters when a distant tone is required: Comunique los detalles al señor
Presidente "Inform the President of the details", Esto no corresponde a
Odradek (J.L. Borges: Odradek is a non-human creature) "This is not a
trait of Odradek's", Es necesario dar cera a este tipo de suelo todas
las semanas (instruction leaflet, Spain) "This type of floor must be
waxed ever week."
In most cases the redundant pronoun is used, more so than fifty years
ago and always with proper names.  Dáselo a Mario "Give it to Mario", Se
lo robaron a Julia "They stole it from Juliet" (robar *a* ... "to setal
from ...")
[Se in those examples is a variation of le]

So, anyhoo, the conclusion seems to be that "Los perros le gustan a
Juan" would still be the usage either way.

*The full list is as follows, ommitting most examples:
(a) Receiving or acquiring any thing, impression, or sensation
    No les es ventajoso
    It's not advantageous to them
    Esta chaqueta no le va
    That jacket doesn't suit him/her
    Le gusta la miel
    She/he/it likes honey
(b) Loss or removal from
(c) Sufficiency, insufficiency, lack, excess
(d) Requesting, requiring, ordering
(e) Numerous phrases involving _tener_ plus an emotion (altho the
equivalent verbs, respetar, temer, etc. may take lo/la/los/las)
    Le tiene miedo
    He fears him/her/you
(f) Numerous set phrases consisting of _hacer_ plus a noun
(g) To indicate persons or things affected by something done to a part
of their body or to some intimate possession:
    ¡Le estás pisando los pies!
    You're treading on his feet
(h) In a number of less easily classified cases which may all be
perceived to convey ideas of "giving", "removing", "benefiting",
"involving", "affected inimately":
    Le encontraron mil pesos
    They found 1000 pesos on her
    La respuesta de su hija le afectó mucho (lo or le possible in Latin
America)
    His daughter's reply affected him a lot

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