Re: Ergative Stage of PIE

From: markodegard@...
Message: 8690
Date: 2001-08-23

--- In cybalist@..., rao.3@... wrote:
> --- In cybalist@..., markodegard@... wrote:
> > Ergativity makes my hair stand on end.
> > Man-abs kill = the man committed murder.
>
> Do you have a specific example of a language where it works like
> this? AFAIK, Man-abs kill would mean 'the man died'.

Maybe I got it wrong. The whole thing really does make my hair stand
on end.

Intransitive verb = agent in absolute case.
Transitive verb = agent in ergative, patient in absolute.

'Kill' can be trans and intrans.