Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal
Abstract In this paper, we propose treating alignment shift as a process of functional markedness reversal in the domain of semantically transitive constructions. We illustrate how this approach allows us to capture similarities between the alignment shifts in Eskimo-Aleut and Western Austronesian l...
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2021
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/jhl.20017.jan http://www.jbe-platform.com/deliver/fulltext/jhl.20017.jan.pdf |
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crjohnbenjaminsp:10.1075/jhl.20017.jan 2024-06-09T07:38:06+00:00 Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal Janic, Katarzyna Hemmings, Charlotte 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/jhl.20017.jan http://www.jbe-platform.com/deliver/fulltext/jhl.20017.jan.pdf en eng John Benjamins Publishing Company https://benjamins.com/content/customers/rights Journal of Historical Linguistics volume 11, issue 2, page 299-341 ISSN 2210-2116 2210-2124 journal-article 2021 crjohnbenjaminsp https://doi.org/10.1075/jhl.20017.jan 2024-05-15T13:26:46Z Abstract In this paper, we propose treating alignment shift as a process of functional markedness reversal in the domain of semantically transitive constructions. We illustrate how this approach allows us to capture similarities between the alignment shifts in Eskimo-Aleut and Western Austronesian languages, despite morphosyntactic differences in their voice systems. Using three diagnostics of functional markedness (semantic transitivity, topic continuity of P, and discourse frequency), we compare antipassive and ergative constructions in Eskimo-Aleut varieties and actor voice ( av ) and undergoer voice ( uv ) constructions in Western Austronesian varieties. We argue that ergative alignment is equivalent to a functionally unmarked P-prominent construction (e.g., ergative, uv ), whilst accusative alignment is equivalent to a functionally unmarked A-prominent construction (e.g., antipassive, av ). On this basis, we claim that both language groups are undergoing a parallel shift from ergative to accusative, since A-prominent constructions are functionally marked in more conservative varieties, but lose their functionally marked character and begin to function as unmarked transitive constructions in more innovative varieties. Article in Journal/Newspaper aleut eskimo* Eskimo–Aleut John Benjamins Publishing Company Journal of Historical Linguistics 11 2 299 341 |
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John Benjamins Publishing Company |
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English |
description |
Abstract In this paper, we propose treating alignment shift as a process of functional markedness reversal in the domain of semantically transitive constructions. We illustrate how this approach allows us to capture similarities between the alignment shifts in Eskimo-Aleut and Western Austronesian languages, despite morphosyntactic differences in their voice systems. Using three diagnostics of functional markedness (semantic transitivity, topic continuity of P, and discourse frequency), we compare antipassive and ergative constructions in Eskimo-Aleut varieties and actor voice ( av ) and undergoer voice ( uv ) constructions in Western Austronesian varieties. We argue that ergative alignment is equivalent to a functionally unmarked P-prominent construction (e.g., ergative, uv ), whilst accusative alignment is equivalent to a functionally unmarked A-prominent construction (e.g., antipassive, av ). On this basis, we claim that both language groups are undergoing a parallel shift from ergative to accusative, since A-prominent constructions are functionally marked in more conservative varieties, but lose their functionally marked character and begin to function as unmarked transitive constructions in more innovative varieties. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Janic, Katarzyna Hemmings, Charlotte |
spellingShingle |
Janic, Katarzyna Hemmings, Charlotte Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
author_facet |
Janic, Katarzyna Hemmings, Charlotte |
author_sort |
Janic, Katarzyna |
title |
Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
title_short |
Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
title_full |
Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
title_fullStr |
Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
title_full_unstemmed |
Alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
title_sort |
alignment shift as functional markedness reversal |
publisher |
John Benjamins Publishing Company |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/jhl.20017.jan http://www.jbe-platform.com/deliver/fulltext/jhl.20017.jan.pdf |
genre |
aleut eskimo* Eskimo–Aleut |
genre_facet |
aleut eskimo* Eskimo–Aleut |
op_source |
Journal of Historical Linguistics volume 11, issue 2, page 299-341 ISSN 2210-2116 2210-2124 |
op_rights |
https://benjamins.com/content/customers/rights |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1075/jhl.20017.jan |
container_title |
Journal of Historical Linguistics |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
299 |
op_container_end_page |
341 |
_version_ |
1801370412735528960 |