How Can The Disparate Ergative-absolutive Alignment Patterns Observed In The Kiranti Languages Of The Himalayas Be Reconciled With The Predicted Typological Correlations Between Morphological Ergativity And Syntactic Pivot Behavior In Clause-chaining Constructions?

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The reconciliation of ergative-absolutive alignment patterns in Kiranti languages with syntactic pivot behavior in clause-chaining constructions involves several key considerations:

  1. Morphological Ergativity: Kiranti languages exhibit ergative-absolutive morphology, where the subject of a transitive verb (A) is marked differently from the subject of an intransitive verb (S) and the object of a transitive verb (O), which are treated similarly.

  2. Syntactic Pivot in Clause-Chaining: Typically, in ergative languages, the syntactic pivot in clause-chaining constructions is the absolutive argument (S or O). However, Kiranti languages show variability, with some using the ergative subject (A) as the pivot, which diverges from expectations.

  3. Variability Among Languages: The Kiranti family is not homogeneous. Some languages may have consistent ergative patterns, while others exhibit split ergativity or more neutral alignment, affecting pivot selection.

  4. Grammatical and Discourse Factors: Clause-chaining may be influenced by syntax, semantics, or pragmatics rather than strictly following morphological alignment. Discourse factors might favor the ergative subject as the pivot for coherence.

  5. Historical and Areal Influences: The development of ergativity in Kiranti languages might have occurred after clause-chaining structures were established, leading to mismatches. Areal influence from neighboring languages could also shape pivot behavior.

  6. Theoretical Implications: The observed variability challenges the notion of a tight correlation between morphological ergativity and syntactic pivot behavior, suggesting a more complex interplay of factors.

In conclusion, the disparate patterns in Kiranti languages can be explained by recognizing the variability within the family, the influence of multiple grammatical factors, and the complex interplay of historical and areal influences, which together suggest that typological correlations are not absolute.