Personal Pronouns / Ergativity

[Patrick C. Ryan]

Dear Peter and IEists:

 ----- Original Message -----
From: petegray <petegray at btinternet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 3:04 PM

Peter wrote:

> It is precisely the use of an objective form for the subject-topic of a
> stative sentence which leads some people to argue that there are hints of
> an earlier ergative stage here.

> Have I missed something in your argument?

Pat comments:

Perhaps I have missed something also. In what IE language does an objective
form function as the subject-topic of a stative sentence?

[ Moderator's comment:
  The reference is, I believe, to o-stem neuter nominative/accusative which
  looks like o-stem non-neuter accusative.  However, in other stem formations,
  the parallel in appearance does not exist.
  --rma ]

 Pat

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