What is absolutive case?

Definition
	Absolutive case is the case of nouns in ergative-absolutive languages that would generally be the subjects of intransitive verbs or the objects of transitive verbs in the translational equivalents of nominative-accusative languages such as English.

Discussion
	Absolutive case is less likely to be formally indicated on the noun than ergative case is.

Generic
	Absolutive case is a kind of
	What is case?

Sources
	Anderson, S. 1985 181
	Crystal 1985 1
	Andrews, A. 1985 138

Context for this page:

Concept module: absolutive case
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

© 2004 SIL International