Re: GROUPLANG: optional features and case

Pablo wrote :
> Now, I know this will sound mean, but... I think we should
> decide on a core system for cases -- to which more cases could
> be added later if useful.
OK
> This decision should be made over
> the possible systems presented so far -- not over new ones.
OK
> I have a lot of ideas and I'm sure you all do too, but the
> brainstorming has to end somewhere!
OK
> I like the mixed system
I think it sums up suggestions made so far by Carlos, Pablo, Nick, Christophe,
Tom et alia. Only Herman is swindled here :-{ although Isuggest he uses
ergative as a nominative and patientive as an accusative :

ERG Ergative
PAT Patientive = 'Patient', 'Accusative' and 'Avoiding'
ABS Absolutive = 'Undergoer'
AGE Agentive = 'Copulative'
ATT Attributive = 'Genitive', 'Modifier', and 'Dative'
I also vote for CAUS Causative because it's easy and saves time and dificult verbal suffixes.
Let me know what you want to change or keep.
> (plus a copulative case, unless
> Mathias can explain how to replace it :) What do you say?
I say : your 'copulative' case is the 'equative' case family, itself divided into
identity in 'it is the mill' = 'it is the one (mill) I told you'
classification in 'it is a mill' = 'it is a building designed to grind grist'
and agency/relation (agentive) in 'it is a mill' = 'it works as a mill' and 'he is
a friend' = 'he relates as a friend'
I suggest you only keep the 'agentive' and use verbs to express identity and classification.

> > As I posted earlier I'd rather tag on the predicate whether it's verb or noun-rooted, then
> >cases would be understood from context.
> >
> I didn't get that before! But it's a good idea to avoid confusion.
I don't know whether Carlos and Herman would like it though. Let's make it optional.
>
>
> --Pablo Flores
>
Mathias


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