Licensing unergative objects in ergative languages: The view from Polynesian

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Author(s)Tollan, Rebecca
Author(s)Massam, Diane
Date Accessioned2022-06-17T14:07:08Z
Date Available2022-06-17T14:07:08Z
Publication Date2022-05-20
DescriptionThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Tollan, Rebecca & Massam, Diane. 2022. Licensing unergative objects in ergative languages: The view from Polynesian. Syntax, 25. 242– 275. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/synt.12232, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/synt.12232. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. This article will be embargoed until 05/20/2024.en_US
AbstractTransitive and unergative verbs have long received a uniform syntactic analysis, where they differ in whether an overt object is present (in transitives) or absent (in unergatives). We examine how objects of unergative verbs are case licensed when they are present, focusing on a contrast between two related Polynesian languages: Samoan and Niuean. Both languages have ergative case systems, with subjects of intransitive verbs receiving absolutive case. When unergatives have an overt object, however, a difference emerges. In Samoan, ergative case is absent: the subject of a transitivized unergative is absolutive, and the object receives “middle case.” In Niuean, the resulting transitive exhibits an ergative–absolutive frame. Working within a split-vP system, we propose that the contrast between Samoan and Niuean results from the interaction of three parametric differences. This comparative analysis highlights the importance of considering unergative constructions when determining the underlying syntax of any given case system.en_US
SponsorThis work was supported by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (grant/award number 435-2015-1987).en_US
CitationTollan, Rebecca & Massam, Diane. 2022. Licensing unergative objects in ergative languages: The view from Polynesian. Syntax, 25. 242– 275. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/synt.12232en_US
ISSN1467-9612
URLhttps://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/31005
Languageen_USen_US
PublisherSyntaxen_US
Keywordstransitivityen_US
Keywordsunergativesen_US
Keywordscaseen_US
Keywordscognate objectsen_US
Keywordsergativityen_US
KeywordsPolynesian languagesen_US
TitleLicensing unergative objects in ergative languages: The view from Polynesianen_US
TypeArticleen_US
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