Core arguments (S, A and P) - grambank/grambank GitHub Wiki

For the purpose of Grambank, we define core arguments as those arguments functioning as the single argument of an intransitive verb (=S), as the patient-like argument of a transitive verb (=P), or as the agent-like argument of a transitive verb (=A). Only major argument marking patterns found with a substantial number of verbs are considered here. A and P can be expected to have only one major argument marking pattern, which occurs with prototypical transitive verbs such as 'kill' and 'destroy', among others. S, on the other hand, has several major argument patterns in some languages.

This definition of core argument and each type of core argument is relevant for the following Grambank features:

• GB070 Are there morphological cases for non-pronominal core arguments (i.e. S, A or P)?
• GB071 Are there morphological cases for phonologically independent personal pronominal core arguments (i.e. S, A or P)?
• GB089 Can the S argument be indexed by a suffix/enclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
• GB090 Can the S argument be indexed by a prefix/proclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
• GB091 Can the A argument be indexed by a suffix/enclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
• GB092 Can the A argument be indexed by a prefix/proclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
• GB093 Can the P argument be indexed by a suffix/enclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
• GB094 Can the P argument be indexed by a prefix/proclitic on the verb in the simple independent clause?
• GB095 Are variations in marking strategies of core participants based on TAM distinctions?
• GB096 Are variations in marking strategies of core participants based on verb classes?
• GB098 Are variations in marking strategies of core participants based on person distinctions?
• GB099 Is there verb suppletion for participant person?
• GB401 Is there a class of patient-labile verbs?
• GB408 Is there any accusative alignment of flagging?
• GB409 Is there any ergative alignment of flagging?
• GB410 Is there any neutral alignment of flagging?

Further reading

Haspelmath, Martin. 2011. On S, A, P, T, and R as comparative concepts for alignment typology. Linguistic Typology 15: 3, 535–567.