The Medio-Active Construction in Nyulnyulan Languages

Abstract

Most Nyulnyulan languages (non-Pama-Nyungan, Western Australia), show an unusual clause type, the medio-active, with the case-frame of a transitive clause, but the verbal agreement of an intransitive clause; there is no formal registration in the verb. This paper provides a detailed description of the structural and semantic properties of this clause type in each language that exhibits it, identifying shared features and differences. Evidence is presented that it represents a distinct construction, of intermediate transitivity, and a grammatical analysis is proposed in terms of roles. The medio-active shows, however, few characteristics prototypical of the passive, and is not a voice option.

A and O as each other's mirror image? Problems with markedness reversal

“…Second, the Agent's energy flow goes outward, directed towards another entity. Put differently, Agenthood invokes directedness towards another participant, a feature we call transmission (see also the notion of "transfer" in Hopper & Thompson (1980), Talmy (1988), and Croft (1991), or McGregor's (1999 "directed action"). It is these two features of Agenthood that are not readily compatible with inanimate and non-motive referents.…”

Focal and optional ergative marking in Warrwa (Kimberley, Western Australia)

“…The medio-active is a peculiar clause type with the following properties: (i) there are two inherent NPs marked as in an ordinary transitive clause -one ergatively marked, the other unmarked; and (ii) the nominative pronominal prefix crossreferences the unmarked NP rather than the ergatively marked NP (McGregor, 1999). 13 These designate happenings that befall human beings as a result of inanimate agencies; accidental burning by fire is a prototypical example, as in (31).…”

“…(Stokes, 1982: 142) (32) jungku -na ø-na-marra-ny-ngayu fire -ERG 3minNOM-TR-burn-PF-1minACC 'The fire burnt me.' Warrwa -nma fERG highlights the agentivity and identity of the Agent, while the medio-active construction of other Nyulnyulan languages backgrounds the Agent as a participant (argument), assigning participanthood exclusively to a human experiencer that would otherwise be represented as an Undergoer (McGregor, 1999). The focal ergative postposition and medio-active construction do different things: the former increases transitivity, while the latter decreases transitivity.…”