Ergativity and Other Alignment Types in Neo-Aramaic: Investigating Morphosyntactic Microvariation (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9789004448179)

The alignment splits in the Neo-Aramaic languages display a considerable degree of diversity, especially in terms of agreement. While earlier studies have generally oversimplified the actual state of affairs, Paul M. Noorlander offers a meticulous and clear account of nearly all microvariation documented so far, addressing all relevant morphosyntactic phenomena. By means of fully glossed and translated examples, the author shows that this vast variation in morphological alignment, including ergativity, is unexpected from a functional typological perspective. He argues the alignment splits are rather the outcome of several construction-specific processes such as internal system harmonization and grammaticalization, as well as language contact.

Author: Paul M. Noorlander
ISBN-10: 9004448179
ISBN-13: 9789004448179
Publisher: Brill
Language: English
Published: 08/26/2021
Pages: 438
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.78lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.10w x 1.00d