A GENERATIVE, TYPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ERGATIVE PHENOMENA IN NOUN PHRASES AND VERB PHRASES IN A GUIPUZCOAN DIALECT OF BASQUE

The thesis presents the results of library and field research into certain grammatical processes which typify traditional and contemporary notions of ergativity in the Guipuzcoan dialect of the Basque language. Beginning with comparisons between sentences such as 1. and 2., the thesis develops an empirical definition of ergativity which it contrasts with accusativity.; ; 1.a Jonek ardia ekartzen du.; 1.b Jon +(e)k ardia (+(SLASHCIRC)).; 1.c John+ergative inflection sheep(+uninflected); ekartzen du; bring ergative transitive auxiliary; 1.d John brings the sheep; 2.a Ama atsegiten zayo berari.('5); 2.b ama (+(SLASHCIRC)) atsegiten.; 2.c Mother (+uninflected) please; zayo bera+ri; accusative transitive her+object inflection; auxiliary; 2.d Mother likes her.