The vocative and case. Observations on languages with a neutral alignment of case marking of NPs
The vocative and case. Observations on languages with a neutral alignment of case marking of NPs

Author(s): Georgi Georgiev
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Morphology, Syntax, Descriptive linguistics
Published by: Институт за български език „Проф. Любомир Андрейчин“, Българска академия на науките
Keywords: vocative; cases; neutral alignment of case marking; typology; typological generalisation; morphosyntax
Summary/Abstract: The vocative is a largely understudied linguistic phenomenon. This text examines the implications of treating the vocative as a case value and of not treating it as such in languages with a neutral alignment of case marking of full noun phrases. Special attention is given to such languages lacking (overt) case (marking), barring, supposedly, (marking for) the vocative. The text argues in favour of employing a principled treatment of the vocative that affords sufficient room for typological generalisation while remaining faithful to language data.

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