On the Nature of Ergativity

B. C. Levin, 1983

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Languages showing some form of ergativity have posed a problem for theories of grammatical relations. This thesis examines a particular hypothesis concerning the nature of at least some ergative phenomena: Marantz"s Ergativity Hypothesis (1981). The importance of this hypothesis stems from the specific claim it makes about the nature of ergativity: the ergativity of a language depends on the particular association between semantic roles and grammatical relations that the language utilizes. In particular, the following assignments of semantic roles to grammatical relations characterize ergative and accusative languages, respectively.

        (A):  Accusative                        (E):  Ergative

        agent-subject                            agent-object

        patient-object                           patient-subject

A number of properties predicted by this hypothesis for ergative languages are investigated in order to provide a picture of ergative languages. These predictions involve case assignment, semantic composition, reflexive constructions, passive and anti-passive constructions, and control constructions. Evidence in support of these properties is presented. In addition, an explanation of many of the properties traditionally associated with so-called ergative languages will be given.

The status of three representatitive "ergative" languages, Basque, Dyirbal, and Walpiri, is examined in detail in light of the Ergativity Hypothesis. Evidence will be presented that Walpiri, described as a "morphologically" ergative language with an ergative system of case marking and an ergative system of person marking, is an accusative language in the sense of the Ergativity Hyptohesis with an ergative system of case marking. Dyirbal, cited as the canonical example of a "syntactically" ergative language, will be shown to be an ergative language in the sense of the Ergativity Hypothesis. Basque, a second "morphologically" ergative language with ergative systems of case and person marking, will also be an accusative language. But, the Basque system of case marking turns out to be neither ergative or accusative. An alternative account of Basque case marking will be proposed.