Basque Agreement Fragment @cite{just-2024} #
@cite{laka-1996} @cite{preminger-2014} @cite{blake-1994}
Basque (isolate) has a rich agreement system where the finite verb indexes up to three arguments: ergative (A), absolutive (S/P), and dative (R). Crucially, object (P/R) agreement is person-conditioned: the verb cross-references 1st/2nd person objects but not 3rd person objects in many constructions.
This is a classic case of differential P indexing conditioned by person prominence: SAP objects are indexed, 3rd person objects are not.
Agreement Paradigm Overview #
| Argument | Case | Indexed? |
|---|---|---|
| A (transitive agent) | ERG | Always |
| S (intransitive subj) | ABS | Always |
| P (transitive patient) | ABS | SAP only (differential) |
Person-number combinations in the Basque agreement paradigm.
- p1sg : PersonNumber
- p2sg : PersonNumber
- p3sg : PersonNumber
- p1pl : PersonNumber
- p2pl : PersonNumber
- p3pl : PersonNumber
Instances For
Equations
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.instBEqPersonNumber.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)
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All person-number values.
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Person value (1, 2, or 3).
Equations
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.PersonNumber.p1sg.person = 1
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.PersonNumber.p1pl.person = 1
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.PersonNumber.p2sg.person = 2
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.PersonNumber.p2pl.person = 2
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.PersonNumber.p3sg.person = 3
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.PersonNumber.p3pl.person = 3
Instances For
Argument positions in a Basque clause.
- agent : ArgPosition
A: transitive agent (ERG)
- patient : ArgPosition
P: transitive patient (ABS)
- intranS : ArgPosition
S: intransitive subject (ABS)
Instances For
Equations
- Fragments.Basque.Agreement.instBEqArgPosition.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)
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Whether a P argument at a given person-number is indexed on the verb.
Basque cross-references SAP objects (1st/2nd person) but not 3rd person objects in the relevant constructions. A and S arguments are always indexed regardless of person.
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Whether an A/S argument at a given person-number is indexed. Always true — A and S indexing is not differential in Basque.
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SAP objects are indexed.
3rd person objects are NOT indexed.
P indexing is differential: some person-numbers indexed, some not.
A/S indexing is NOT differential: all person-numbers indexed.
Basque agreement-relevant case inventory: {ERG, ABS, DAT}. The full Basque case system has ~12 cases (ERG, ABS, DAT, GEN, LOC, ABL, ALL, INST, COM, PERL, BEN, and more), but the agreement system only distinguishes these three.
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The full Basque case inventory (representative selection).
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The full inventory is valid per Blake's hierarchy (ranks 6 down to 1, all represented).