Rethinking alignment typology

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    Abstract

    Considering the standard typological distinction between ergative and accusative alignment, this article argues that the variety of phenomena suggests the need for a more fine-grained classification of alignment types. We start from the observation that grammatical processes may or may not apply to all the grammatical functions, leading to a basic division in complete and incomplete types. It follows that 'ergative' is just one of 18 alignment types, while some incomplete alignment types that look ergative are in fact different, and closer to the family of accusative types.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSyntactic architecture and its consequences
    Subtitle of host publicationInside syntax
    EditorsAndrás Bárány, Theresa Biberauer, Jamie Douglas, Sten Vikner
    Place of PublicationBerlin
    PublisherLanguage Science Press
    Chapter2
    Pages23-50
    Number of pages28
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-96110-308-9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2-Aug-2021

    Publication series

    NameOpen Generative Syntax
    PublisherLanguage Science Press
    Volume11
    ISSN (Electronic)2568-7336

    Keywords

    • case
    • agreement
    • alignment
    • typology
    • completeness
    • rergativity

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