So, I'm imagining a language which uses Nominative (N), Accusative (A), Ergative (E), and Absolutive (B) cases. The verbs do not inflect for voice, but have a lexically expected case. For active verbs, this is either N or E. For stative/descriptive verbs, this is either A or B. I imagine a good N-verb might be "to eat", an A-verb "to be red", an E-verb "I punch", and a B-verb "to be reddened". Here goes:
|
Case Expected |
Case Given |
N |
A |
E |
B |
N |
Normal Intentionality |
Average Causality |
Unintentionality |
Unintentional Causality |
A |
Passive Voice |
Normal Descriptive |
Unintentional Passivity |
Pseudo-Passive Object |
E |
Screaming Intentionality |
Screaming Causality |
Strong Intentionality |
Intentional Causality |
B |
Intentional Passivity |
Pseudo-Passive Voice |
Anti-passive Voice |
Normal Stative |
OK, that kinda worked. Let's try it with the verbs I mentioned, imagining an Ergative-Absolutive alignment when needed:
|
Case Expected |
Case Given |
N |
A |
E |
B |
N |
I ate |
I made (it) red |
I punched (him) on accident |
I was reddened on accident |
A |
I was eaten |
I am red |
I was punched (by him) on accident |
I got reddened |
E |
I ate on purpose |
I made (it) red on purpose |
I punched (him) |
I reddened (it) |
B |
I was eaten in purpose |
I got (it) red |
I was punched (by him)* |
I was reddened |
I have no idea if I'm murdering Fluid-S or not. I better ask some people.