Re: THEORY: Can Ditransitive Verbs Agree With More Than Two Core Arguments?

Hierarchical is that kind of thing yes. Either the argument agreed with,
or the order of affixes (if multiple arguments are agreed with) etc is
determined by some hierarchy of arguments, usually related to animacy.

>What's "Hierarchical" again?
>
>Is that system in which monotransitive verbs have Inverse and Direct
>versions?  And some NPs are more animate or more sympathetic, other
>NPs less animate or less sympathetic?  And in any Direct
>montransitive clause it is just assumed that the more
>animate/sympathetic NP must be the Agent, while the less
>animate/sympathetic NP must be the Patient?  And if the clause is
>changed only by using the Inverse version of the same verb, that
>makes the *less* animate/sympathetic NP the Agent and makes the
>*more* animate/sympathetic NP become the Patient?
>
>