accusative and ergative languages

Tue Jun 29 22:58:12 UTC 1999

Dear Ralf-Stefan and IEists:

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Stefan Georg <georg at rullet.leidenuniv.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 3:10 PM

[ moderator snip ]

> Having to be rendered by the passive in English is not the same thing as
> "being passive in nature".

Pat responds:
How about explaining "passive in nature"?  Is that a Platonic idea?

Pat

PATRICK C. RYAN (501) 227-9947; FAX/DATA (501)312-9947 9115 W. 34th St.
Little Rock, AR 72204-4441 USA WEBPAGES:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2803 and PROTO-RELIGION:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2803/proto-religion/indexR.html "Veit
ek, at ek hekk, vindga meipi, nftr allar nmu, geiri undapr . . . a ~eim
meipi er mangi veit hvers hann af rstum renn." (Havamal 138)