Super-Extended Ergativity in SJA Mam

@cite{scott-2023} @cite{england-2017}

Theory-neutral data on split ergativity in San Juan Atitán (SJA) Mam.

The Phenomenon

In matrix clauses, Mam shows a tripartite agreement pattern:

• A (transitive agent): Set A (ERG)
• S (intransitive subject): Set B (ABS)
• P (transitive patient): default Set B (no agreement)

In certain dependent clauses — purpose clauses headed by tu'n, reason clauses, taj 'when' clauses — the alignment shifts to what @cite{england-2017} calls super-extended ergativity: Set A marking extends to ALL arguments (S, A, and O). The system becomes "neutral" with all arguments receiving the same marker set.

The Split

The trigger is clause type, not aspect or person features:

• Matrix clauses: tripartite (ERG Set A / ABS Set B / default Set B)
• Super-extended ergative (SEE) clauses: neutral (all Set A)

Key Data Points

1. Intransitive S in SEE clauses: Set A (not Set B as in matrix)
2. Transitive A in SEE clauses: Set A (same as matrix)
3. Transitive O in SEE clauses: Set A on directional (not default Set B/ independent pronoun as in matrix). Only default 2/3SG Set A (t-) is allowed — agreeing Set A markers for the object are ungrammatical (@cite{scott-2023}, §2.6.3, ex. 196).

Why Not SplitErgativity?

Core.Case.SplitErgativity models a binary toggle between ergative and accusative alignment conditioned by some factor (e.g., aspect in Hindi). Mam's SEE split is not binary — it goes from tripartite (three distinct marking patterns) to neutral (one pattern for all). The custom MamAlignment struct captures this richer contrast directly.

See Also

Phenomena.Agreement.Studies.Scott2023 for the Agree-based derivation of the matrix tripartite pattern (probe blocking by Voice_TR).

structure Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.MamAlignment : Type

The Mam alignment in a given clause type.

• sMarker : Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet

  Marker set for S (intransitive subject)

• aMarker : Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet

  Marker set for A (transitive agent)

• oMarker : Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet

  Marker set for O (transitive patient)

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instDecidableEqMamAlignment.decEq (x✝ x✝¹ : MamAlignment) : Decidable (x✝ = x✝¹)

Equations

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instance Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instDecidableEqMamAlignment : DecidableEq MamAlignment

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instDecidableEqMamAlignment = Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instDecidableEqMamAlignment.decEq

instance Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqMamAlignment : BEq MamAlignment

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqMamAlignment = { beq := Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqMamAlignment.beq }

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqMamAlignment.beq : MamAlignment → MamAlignment → Bool

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• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqMamAlignment.beq x✝¹ x✝ = false

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprMamAlignment.repr : MamAlignment → Nat → Std.Format

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instance Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprMamAlignment : Repr MamAlignment

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprMamAlignment = { reprPrec := Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprMamAlignment.repr }

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.matrixAlignment : MamAlignment

Matrix clause alignment: tripartite. S = Set B (ABS), A = Set A (ERG), O = default Set B (no agreement).

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.matrixAlignment = { sMarker := Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet.setB, aMarker := Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet.setA, oMarker := Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet.setB }

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.seeAlignment : MamAlignment

Super-extended ergative alignment: neutral (all Set A).

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.seeAlignment = { sMarker := Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet.setA, aMarker := Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet.setA, oMarker := Fragments.Mayan.MarkerSet.setA }

theorem Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.matrix_s_ne_a : matrixAlignment.sMarker ≠ matrixAlignment.aMarker

Matrix alignment is tripartite: S, A, O each have distinct marking patterns (S ≠ A by marker set; S ≡ O by marker set but S has real agreement while O has default — the tripartite distinction is agreement-based, not marker-set-based).

theorem Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.see_is_neutral : seeAlignment.sMarker = seeAlignment.aMarker ∧ seeAlignment.aMarker = seeAlignment.oMarker

SEE alignment is neutral: all arguments get the same marker set.

theorem Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.split_ergativity : matrixAlignment.sMarker ≠ seeAlignment.sMarker ∧ matrixAlignment.oMarker ≠ seeAlignment.oMarker ∧ matrixAlignment.aMarker = seeAlignment.aMarker

The split: matrix and SEE differ in S marking and O marking.

theorem Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.a_invariant : matrixAlignment.aMarker = seeAlignment.aMarker

A is invariant across the split: Set A in both matrix and SEE.

inductive Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.SEETrigger : Type

Subordinators that trigger super-extended ergativity in SJA Mam.

• tun : SEETrigger
• taj : SEETrigger
• aj : SEETrigger
• chix : SEETrigger
• nim : SEETrigger
• nanx : SEETrigger

instance Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instDecidableEqSEETrigger : DecidableEq SEETrigger

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instDecidableEqSEETrigger x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯

instance Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqSEETrigger : BEq SEETrigger

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqSEETrigger = { beq := Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqSEETrigger.beq }

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqSEETrigger.beq : SEETrigger → SEETrigger → Bool

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instBEqSEETrigger.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)

instance Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprSEETrigger : Repr SEETrigger

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprSEETrigger = { reprPrec := Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprSEETrigger.repr }

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.instReprSEETrigger.repr : SEETrigger → Nat → Std.Format

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• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.seeTriggerAlignment : SEETrigger → MamAlignment

All SEE triggers yield the same neutral alignment.

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.seeTriggerAlignment x✝ = Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.seeAlignment

def Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.objectSetAIsDefault : Bool

In SEE clauses, object Set A markers are restricted to the default 2/3SG form (t-). Agreeing Set A markers for the object are ungrammatical. This parallels the default Set B (tz'=) pattern for objects in matrix clauses.

Equations

• Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.objectSetAIsDefault = true

theorem Phenomena.Ergativity.Studies.Scott2023.object_default_parallel : objectSetAIsDefault = true

The parallel: in BOTH matrix and SEE, the object slot shows default (non-agreeing) morphology. The default marker just changes:

• Matrix: default Set B (tz'=)
• SEE: default Set A (t-)