Aspect as the source of diathesis in NorthEastern Neo-Aramaic and beyond with remarks on transitivity, accusativity, ergativity and case
-
Pablo I. Kirtchuk-Halevi
Abstract
North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA) displays two verbal paradigms: one whose subject is in the nominative and one whose subject is diachronically appended to the /l-/ (dative) preposition. Synchronically, this state of affairs can be interpreted as split-ergativity. Those paradigms stem from participial forms, nonperfect and perfect respectively. Since the difference is of aspect not diathesis, the perfect form can serve both as active or passive. The function it fulfills in each case is determined by use and construction, namely by pragmatics and syntax. Typology supports the dative rather than possessive interpretation of the paradigm II suffixes inasmuch as in many languages with ergative or split-ergative constructions, the ergative morpheme harkens back diachronically or is identical synchronically with the dative, instrumental &c., not with an originally genitive morpheme as such. These dynamic and functional explanations hopefully shed new light on synchronic data which until now seemeed contradictory, ambiguous and obscure.
Abstract
North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA) displays two verbal paradigms: one whose subject is in the nominative and one whose subject is diachronically appended to the /l-/ (dative) preposition. Synchronically, this state of affairs can be interpreted as split-ergativity. Those paradigms stem from participial forms, nonperfect and perfect respectively. Since the difference is of aspect not diathesis, the perfect form can serve both as active or passive. The function it fulfills in each case is determined by use and construction, namely by pragmatics and syntax. Typology supports the dative rather than possessive interpretation of the paradigm II suffixes inasmuch as in many languages with ergative or split-ergative constructions, the ergative morpheme harkens back diachronically or is identical synchronically with the dative, instrumental &c., not with an originally genitive morpheme as such. These dynamic and functional explanations hopefully shed new light on synchronic data which until now seemeed contradictory, ambiguous and obscure.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Theoretical issues
- A cognitive and conceptual approach to tense and aspect markers 27
-
Part II. Grammatical encoding of aspectual and temporal distinctions
- Tense, aspect and mood in Nêlêmwa (New Caledonia) 63
- On the tense-aspect system of standard Thai* 109
- Dravidian conceptual basis for the Badaga “tenses” 131
- Tense and aspect in the verbal system of Wolof* 171
- Tense and aspect in Langi* 231
- Aspect in Sikuani 265
-
Part III. Grammatical aspect and Aktionsarten
- Aspect-tense relations in East Greenlandic 297
- On interaction between external and internal markers in expressing aspect in Arabic dialect varieties 325
-
Part IV. Indo-European Aorist and Hamito-Semitic Aorist
- The aorist and the perfect in Albanian* 357
- The aorist in Modern Armenian 375
- The verbal form V-ā in Hindi/Urdu 413
- The aorist in Berber 447
- The Aorist in Zenaga Berber and the Imperfective in two Arabic dialects 465
-
Part V. Perfects and resultatives
- Modern Greek -tos (τος) and -menos (μενος) 505
- Resultative Interpretation of Predicates in Korean* 525
- On two types of result 563
-
Part VI. The Future and future reference
- Future and prospective in the Mongolic languages 599
- The future tenses in the Tibetic languages 625
- No escape from the future 643
- The Bulgarian future in light of the temporal frames of reference 679
-
Part VII. Grammatical change
- Aspect as the source of diathesis in NorthEastern Neo-Aramaic and beyond with remarks on transitivity, accusativity, ergativity and case 705
- Language Index 727
- Author Index 729
- Subject Index 735
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Theoretical issues
- A cognitive and conceptual approach to tense and aspect markers 27
-
Part II. Grammatical encoding of aspectual and temporal distinctions
- Tense, aspect and mood in Nêlêmwa (New Caledonia) 63
- On the tense-aspect system of standard Thai* 109
- Dravidian conceptual basis for the Badaga “tenses” 131
- Tense and aspect in the verbal system of Wolof* 171
- Tense and aspect in Langi* 231
- Aspect in Sikuani 265
-
Part III. Grammatical aspect and Aktionsarten
- Aspect-tense relations in East Greenlandic 297
- On interaction between external and internal markers in expressing aspect in Arabic dialect varieties 325
-
Part IV. Indo-European Aorist and Hamito-Semitic Aorist
- The aorist and the perfect in Albanian* 357
- The aorist in Modern Armenian 375
- The verbal form V-ā in Hindi/Urdu 413
- The aorist in Berber 447
- The Aorist in Zenaga Berber and the Imperfective in two Arabic dialects 465
-
Part V. Perfects and resultatives
- Modern Greek -tos (τος) and -menos (μενος) 505
- Resultative Interpretation of Predicates in Korean* 525
- On two types of result 563
-
Part VI. The Future and future reference
- Future and prospective in the Mongolic languages 599
- The future tenses in the Tibetic languages 625
- No escape from the future 643
- The Bulgarian future in light of the temporal frames of reference 679
-
Part VII. Grammatical change
- Aspect as the source of diathesis in NorthEastern Neo-Aramaic and beyond with remarks on transitivity, accusativity, ergativity and case 705
- Language Index 727
- Author Index 729
- Subject Index 735
