Author : Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald
Release : 2001-01-01
Genre : Language Arts & Disciplines
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 502/5 ( reviews)
Book Synopsis Non-canonical Marking of Subjects and Objects by : Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald
Download or read book Non-canonical Marking of Subjects and Objects written by Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald. This book was released on 2001-01-01. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In some languages every subject is marked in the same way, and also every object. But there are languages in which a small set of verbs mark their subjects or their objects in an unusual way. For example, most verbs may mark their subject with nominative case, but one small set of verbs may have dative subjects, and another small set may have locative subjects. Verbs with noncanonically marked subjects and objects typically refer to physiological states or events, inner feelings, perception and cognition. The Introduction sets out the theoretical parameters and defines the properties in terms of which subjects and objects can be analysed. Following chapters discuss Icelandic, Bengali, Quechua, Finnish, Japanese, Amele (a Papuan language), and Tariana (an Amazonian language); there is also a general discussion of European languages. This is a pioneering study providing new and fascinating data, and dealing with a topic of prime theoretical importance to linguists of many persuasions.