出版社：University of Colorado, Department of Linguistics
摘要：This paper presents a description of the case marking systems in Amharic and
Tigrinya. The case system is fully retained in the pronominal and determiner
systems of both languages. Nominal case markings are, however, observed only in
definite objects. The languages are nominative-accusative in their case system
as can be seen from the pronouns, the definite article, and pronominal affixes
which are attached to the verb to show agreement with subjects and definite
objects. There is also interaction between the semantic notion of definiteness
and object marking, which takes two forms: an object marker attached to the
nominal object and an object marking verbal affix. In both cases, it is only if
the object is definite that these object markings appear. This is an instance of
split P. The two related object-marking phenomena always coexist in both
languages.
