Roots of Ergativity in Africa (and Beyond)

Abstract

In the literature, it is often assumed that ergative constructions originate in passive constructions. The present contribution explores the likelihood of such a passive-to-ergative analysis for one language (Tima, Niger-Congo, Sudan), showing that this analysis cannot be substantiated and suggesting an origin in active constructions instead. This study is situated in its areal context (outlining similarities to split case marking systems across the region, especially in the Southern branch of Eastern Sudanic) and against the background of discussions in the Indo-Iranian family (from where the passive-to-ergative hypothesis presumably spread).

Split case marking and constituent order in Nilotic languages

“…(2) Datooga (Gisamjanga) (Southern Nilotic; Tanzania) a. ng'ádìidà q-wá-dáa nìnyi lion AFF-3-see 3SG.PRO 'The lion saw him.' (Mitchell n.d., elicited data) b. q-wá-dáa ng'ádíidá nìnyi With respect to genealogical and geographic distribution, the 'no case before the verb' feature that we have just described is found in various families commonly subsumed under the Eastern Sudanic branch within the Nilo-Saharan phylum, such as Jebel, Nilotic and Surmic languages, as well as in the Niger-Congo phylum (Tima), in Koman (Uduk) and Kadu languages (Katcha), and in some isolates, such as Berta (reported in Casaretto et al 2020). Grossman (2015) points out that the same phenomenon can also be observed in Coptic.…”

On noncausal/causal alternations in Tima (Nuba Mountains, Sudan)

“…He claims that the "most important aspect of this change is the upgrading of the agent phrase to a central constituent of the clause" (Haspelmath 1990: 56), ending with its obligatoriness. Although, as outlined in Casaretto et al (2020), we do not assume that the Tima ergative construction has its origin in the passive notion of causatives, the many possibilities for altering the verb's valency with the help of the various derivation markers attested in Tima are regarded as having facilitated the emergence of the ergative construction.…”

“…In the causative-marked passive construction, as exemplified above, the instrument as the means or cause of the action may but does not have to be expressed in an oblique phrase. Casaretto et al (2020) outline in detail that one of the more unlikely hypotheses of the emergence of ergative constructions in Tima is that such an instrument may have gained subject properties, such as being indexed on the verb. Synchronically, there is no indication that it happened that way.…”

“…The established formal verb structures will also be related to possible word orders, thereby touching on the issue of subjecthood. By doing so, the discussion by Casaretto et al (2020) on the emer-gence of Tima ergativity, in which causation plays a considerable role, will be enriched. The data which will be presented here supports the assumption formulated by Casaretto et al (2020) that the passive construction is most probably not the origin of the ergative construction in Tima.…”

“…By doing so, the discussion by Casaretto et al (2020) on the emer-gence of Tima ergativity, in which causation plays a considerable role, will be enriched. The data which will be presented here supports the assumption formulated by Casaretto et al (2020) that the passive construction is most probably not the origin of the ergative construction in Tima. In accordance with them, I assume -based upon both old and new data -that the rich derivation marking system, with interfering and overlapping meanings, might have been the source for this development (consider mainly Section 4 for a discussion of this).…”