Re: IE Langs with unusual case systems

From: "Andrew Chaney" <adchaney@...>
> I was thinking the other day about making a language using IE* roots
> and an IE-derived case system.  But I'd like to fiddle with the cases
> so that they end up being used for functions other than one would
> expect.
>
> That is, I'd like to have some system where somehow the language
> ends up using the genitive for the subject of sentences and the
> dative for direct objects. Something like
>
>         "My hitting is to you" -> "Hitting my is to you"
>         hit.participle 1.s.genitive be.1.s you.dat
>         for
>         "I hit you".
>         Allowing for a language with VSO structure and Nominative
>         and genitive cases becoming identical. That sort of thing
>         or something similar....
>
> Does anyone know of any real languages that do something similar?
> Does anyone have any comments (+ or -) in genereal?
In one branch of my conlang tree, the descendant of the IE dative case will
get used for subjects [a long, ridiculous fiasco involving string cheese,
the mediopassive, and a gummikrankenschwester], and in another the
accusative may possibly become the parent of a new set of locatives [on the
idea that some postpositions get fused to the nouns].  Those are ideas I
have, although I haven't gotten to work on the langs themselves yet.  [Many
plans, little accomplished, etc.]

     *Muke!
--
http://www.southern.edu/~alrivera/