Ergative-absolutive system

Definition

An ergative-absolutive system is a type of grammatical structure used in some languages where the subject of an intransitive verb is treated the same way as the object of a transitive verb, while the subject of a transitive verb is marked differently. This system contrasts with the nominative-accusative system commonly found in languages like English, where the subject remains consistently marked regardless of the verb's transitivity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In ergative-absolutive languages, the ergative marker indicates the subject of a transitive verb, while there is no special marking for the subject of an intransitive verb, which takes on the absolutive case.
2. Examples of languages that utilize an ergative-absolutive system include Georgian, Basque, and many Australian Aboriginal languages.
3. The distinction between ergative and absolutive cases can influence syntactic structures and how sentences are formed in these languages, impacting aspects like word order.
4. Ergative-absolutive systems challenge traditional views on grammatical roles by offering alternative ways to express agentivity and affectedness in sentences.
5. The presence of an ergative-absolutive system often indicates a more complex relationship between verbs and their subjects or objects than those seen in nominative-accusative languages.

Review Questions

• How does the ergative-absolutive system differ from the nominative-accusative system in terms of subject marking?
  • The ergative-absolutive system differs significantly from the nominative-accusative system by marking the subject of a transitive verb differently from the subject of an intransitive verb. In ergative-absolutive languages, the subject of an intransitive verb shares its marking with the object of a transitive verb, both receiving what is known as the absolutive case. In contrast, in nominative-accusative languages like English, the subject is always marked similarly regardless of whether it’s involved with a transitive or intransitive verb.
• Discuss how transitivity plays a role in determining case marking within ergative-absolutive systems.
  • Transitivity is crucial in ergative-absolutive systems because it dictates how verbs interact with their subjects and objects. In these systems, transitive verbs take an ergative-marked subject, while both intransitive subjects and transitive objects are marked as absolutive. This differentiation allows for nuanced expression of agency and affectedness within sentences, showcasing how grammatical roles can shift depending on whether a verb is transitive or intransitive.
• Evaluate the implications of ergative-absolutive systems for understanding human language variation and cognition.
  • The existence of ergative-absolutive systems highlights significant diversity in human language structure and challenges preconceived notions about universal grammar. By presenting alternative ways to encode relationships between verbs and their arguments, these systems suggest that cognitive processes related to language may be more flexible than previously thought. This variation prompts further investigation into how different linguistic frameworks can shape thought patterns and influence cognitive models across cultures.

Related terms

Nominative-Accusative: A grammatical alignment system where the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs is treated the same way, often marked as nominative.

Transitivity: The grammatical category that expresses the relation between a verb and its arguments, specifically indicating whether a verb requires an object (transitive) or not (intransitive).

Split Ergativity: A phenomenon where a language exhibits both ergative and nominative-accusative patterns depending on certain grammatical or contextual factors, leading to variability in argument marking.