[Lingtyp] languages with accusative/ergative alternation

[Peter Austin]

Assuming you do not mean TAM-based split ergativity, e.g. Pitta-Pitta.

Best
Peter


________________________________
From: Lingtyp <lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> on behalf of Martin Haspelmath via Lingtyp <lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2024 1:41:54 PM
To: LINGTYP LINGTYP <LINGTYP at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>
Subject: [Lingtyp] languages with accusative/ergative alternation

Dear typologists,

Does anyone know of a language that has been described as exhibiting an
accusative/ergative alternation, i.e. where verbs with meanings like
'break' or 'chase' can occur in two constructions such as (1) and (2)
(which are schematic examples, not English)?

(1) the dog-NOM chased the cat-ACC

(2) the dog-ERG chased the cat-NOM

Such an alternation would be analogous to indirective/secundative
alternations, as in the schematic examples (3) and (4).

(3) they provided food-ACC us-DAT ('they provided food to us')

(4) they provided us-ACC food-INS ('they provided us with food')

While indirective/secundative alternations have been described
repeatedly, accusative/ergative alternations are little-known, and seem
to be quite rare. Is this impression correct?

Thanks,

Martin

--
Martin Haspelmath
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
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