7 Intransitive split in Tundra Nenets, or how much semantics can hide behind syntactic alignment
Abstract This chapter investigates whether Basque's case-marking pattern is ergative or semantically-based. While Eastern and Central dialects can be considered to have a loose ergative alignment, Western dialects have a semantic alignment based on the contrast patient/non-patient. Historical d...
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Format: | Book Part |
Language: | English |
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Oxford University PressOxford
2008
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199238385.003.0007 https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/44428021/book_40486_section_347662953.ag.pdf |
Summary: | Abstract This chapter investigates whether Basque's case-marking pattern is ergative or semantically-based. While Eastern and Central dialects can be considered to have a loose ergative alignment, Western dialects have a semantic alignment based on the contrast patient/non-patient. Historical data suggest that Modern Eastern Basque best conserves the original system. |
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