In grammar, the ergative case (abbreviated erg) is the grammatical case that identifies a nominal phrase[2] as the agent of a transitive verb in ergativeâabsolutive languages.[3]
Characteristics
In such languages, the ergative case is typically marked (most salient), while the absolutive case is unmarked. Recent work in case theory has vigorously supported the idea that the ergative case identifies the agent (the intentful performer of an action) of a verb.[4]
In Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) for example, the ergative case is used to mark subjects of transitive verbs and possessors of nouns. This syncretism with the genitive is commonly referred to as the relative case.
Nez Perce has a three-way nominal case system with both ergative (-nim) and accusative (-ne) plus an absolute (unmarked) case for intransitive subjects: hipĂĄayna qĂiwn âthe old man arrivedâ; hipĂĄayna wewĂșkiye âthe elk arrivedâ; wewĂșkiyene pĂ©exne qĂiwnim âthe old man saw an elkâ.
Sahaptin has an ergative noun case (with suffix -nÉšm) that is limited to transitive constructions only when the direct object is 1st or 2nd person: iwapĂĄatayaaĆĄ ĆmĂĄmanÉšm âthe old woman helped meâ; paanĂĄy iwapĂĄataya ĆmĂĄma âthe old woman helped him/herâ (direct); pĂĄwapaataya ĆmĂĄmayin âthe old woman helped him/herâ (inverse).
In languages with an optional ergative, the choice between marking the ergative case or not depends on semantic or pragmatics aspects such as marking focus on the argument.[5]
Other languages that use the ergative case are Georgian, Chechen, and other Caucasian languages, Mayan languages, MixeâZoque languages, Wagiman and other Australian Aboriginal languages as well as Basque, Burushaski and Tibetan. Among all Indo-European languages only, Yaghnobi, Kurdish language varieties (including Kurmanji, Zazaki and Sorani)[6] and Pashto from Iranian languages and Hindi/Urdu, along with some other Indo-Aryan languages are ergative.
The ergative case is also a feature of some constructed languages such as Na'vi, Ithkuil and Black Speech.
See also
Citations
- â Edzard, Dietz-Otto (2003). Sumerian Grammar. BRILL. p. 36. ISBN 978-90-474-0340-1.
- â Loos, Eugene. "Glossary of linguistic terms". LinguaLinks Library 5.0 Plus. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
- â Haspelmath, Martin. 2022. Ergative, absolutive, accusative and nominative as comparative concepts. In Iomdin, Leonid & MiliÄeviÄ, Jasmina & PolguĂšre, Alain (eds.), Lifetime linguistic inspirations: To Igor MelâÄuk, 201â213. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. (doi:10.5281/zenodo.7625026) (https://zenodo.org/record/7625026)
- â Woolford, Ellen. "Lexical Case, Inherent Case, and Argument Structure". Feb 2005.
- â William B. McGregor (1 July 2010). "Optional ergative case marking systems in a typological-semiotic perspective". Lingua. 120: 1610â1636. doi:10.1016/J.LINGUA.2009.05.010. ISSN 0024-3841. Wikidata Q122816430.
- â Theodora Bynon. 1979. The Ergative Construction in Kurdish. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies Vol. 42, No. 2:211-224.