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Chapter 2. Non-nominative and depersonalized subjects in the Balkans

Areality vs. genealogy
  • Victor A. Friedman and Brian D. Joseph
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Non-Canonically Case-Marked Subjects
This chapter is in the book Non-Canonically Case-Marked Subjects

Abstract

The languages of the Balkan sprachbund are surveyed here with regard to their constructions that show non-nominative subjects, typically in impersonal constructions. The issue of origins is considered, specifically as to whether these constructions represent inheritances from some earlier stage of the relevant languages or instead reflect the effects of contact. In the end, it is argued that a mix of areality, i.e. contact, and genealogy, i.e. inheritance, is needed to explain these constructions, with a nod required as well to typologically common patternings.

Abstract

The languages of the Balkan sprachbund are surveyed here with regard to their constructions that show non-nominative subjects, typically in impersonal constructions. The issue of origins is considered, specifically as to whether these constructions represent inheritances from some earlier stage of the relevant languages or instead reflect the effects of contact. In the end, it is argued that a mix of areality, i.e. contact, and genealogy, i.e. inheritance, is needed to explain these constructions, with a nod required as well to typologically common patternings.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Areal/geneological investigations
  5. Chapter 2. Non-nominative and depersonalized subjects in the Balkans 23
  6. Chapter 3. Affective constructions in Tsezic languages 55
  7. Part II. Synchronic investigations
  8. Chapter 4. A macrorole approach to dative subjects 85
  9. Chapter 5. Dative case and oblique subjects 115
  10. Part III. Diachronic investigations
  11. Chapter 6. Word order as a subject test in Old Icelandic 135
  12. Chapter 7. The diachrony of non-canonical subjects in Northwest Semitic 155
  13. Chapter 8. Case marking of predicative possession in Vedic 181
  14. Chapter 9. Accusative sickness? 213
  15. Afterword
  16. Chapter 10. Forty years in the search of a/the subject 241
  17. Chapter 11. What is a subject 257
  18. Language index 275
  19. Subject Index 277
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.200.02fri

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Areal/geneological investigations
  5. Chapter 2. Non-nominative and depersonalized subjects in the Balkans 23
  6. Chapter 3. Affective constructions in Tsezic languages 55
  7. Part II. Synchronic investigations
  8. Chapter 4. A macrorole approach to dative subjects 85
  9. Chapter 5. Dative case and oblique subjects 115
  10. Part III. Diachronic investigations
  11. Chapter 6. Word order as a subject test in Old Icelandic 135
  12. Chapter 7. The diachrony of non-canonical subjects in Northwest Semitic 155
  13. Chapter 8. Case marking of predicative possession in Vedic 181
  14. Chapter 9. Accusative sickness? 213
  15. Afterword
  16. Chapter 10. Forty years in the search of a/the subject 241
  17. Chapter 11. What is a subject 257
  18. Language index 275
  19. Subject Index 277
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