Chapter 7. The diachrony of non-canonical subjects in Northwest Semitic
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Na'ama Pat-El
Abstract
A syntactic pattern involving non-canonical subject marking in some Northwest-Semitic languages is fascinating for two reasons: (1) it cannot be reconstructed to the proto-language and it must have developed relatively late in the history of the family, which affords us an opportunity to observe its development through textual attestations (cf. Barðdal & Eythórsson 2009); (2) the predication is by and large non-verbal, which seems to counter explanations based on passive derivations and agentivity as a possible origin (Haspelmath 2001). I suggest instead that non-canonical subjects originated from free datives in clauses where the typical agreement cannot be applied. In such cases, the dative, which is animate, definite and associated with the subject, eventually outranked the original subject, which is typically a nominalization and never animate or definite. I further discuss the special features of the non-canonical subject and argue that it is quite stable.
Abstract
A syntactic pattern involving non-canonical subject marking in some Northwest-Semitic languages is fascinating for two reasons: (1) it cannot be reconstructed to the proto-language and it must have developed relatively late in the history of the family, which affords us an opportunity to observe its development through textual attestations (cf. Barðdal & Eythórsson 2009); (2) the predication is by and large non-verbal, which seems to counter explanations based on passive derivations and agentivity as a possible origin (Haspelmath 2001). I suggest instead that non-canonical subjects originated from free datives in clauses where the typical agreement cannot be applied. In such cases, the dative, which is animate, definite and associated with the subject, eventually outranked the original subject, which is typically a nominalization and never animate or definite. I further discuss the special features of the non-canonical subject and argue that it is quite stable.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I. Areal/geneological investigations
- Chapter 2. Non-nominative and depersonalized subjects in the Balkans 23
- Chapter 3. Affective constructions in Tsezic languages 55
-
Part II. Synchronic investigations
- Chapter 4. A macrorole approach to dative subjects 85
- Chapter 5. Dative case and oblique subjects 115
-
Part III. Diachronic investigations
- Chapter 6. Word order as a subject test in Old Icelandic 135
- Chapter 7. The diachrony of non-canonical subjects in Northwest Semitic 155
- Chapter 8. Case marking of predicative possession in Vedic 181
- Chapter 9. Accusative sickness? 213
-
Afterword
- Chapter 10. Forty years in the search of a/the subject 241
- Chapter 11. What is a subject 257
- Language index 275
- Subject Index 277
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I. Areal/geneological investigations
- Chapter 2. Non-nominative and depersonalized subjects in the Balkans 23
- Chapter 3. Affective constructions in Tsezic languages 55
-
Part II. Synchronic investigations
- Chapter 4. A macrorole approach to dative subjects 85
- Chapter 5. Dative case and oblique subjects 115
-
Part III. Diachronic investigations
- Chapter 6. Word order as a subject test in Old Icelandic 135
- Chapter 7. The diachrony of non-canonical subjects in Northwest Semitic 155
- Chapter 8. Case marking of predicative possession in Vedic 181
- Chapter 9. Accusative sickness? 213
-
Afterword
- Chapter 10. Forty years in the search of a/the subject 241
- Chapter 11. What is a subject 257
- Language index 275
- Subject Index 277
