Intransitive split in Tundra Nenets, or how much semantics can hide behind syntactic alignment

This chapter investigates whether Basque's case-marking pattern is ergative or semantically-based. While Eastern and Central dialects can be considered to have a loose ergative alignment, Western dialects have a semantic alignment based on the contrast patient/non-patient. Historical data suggest that Modern Eastern Basque best conserves the original system.

This chapter investigates whether Basque's case-marking pattern is ergative or semantically-based. While Eastern and Central dialects can be considered to have a loose ergative alignment, Western dialects have a semantic alignment based on the contrast patient/non-patient. Historical data suggest that Modern Eastern Basque best conserves the original system.