Explanation
Systematic grouping of central sentence roles based on case, agreement, or word order. Languages do not always distinguish between agents and patients according to the same basic principles.
Example
Atlas example: Languages do not always distinguish between agents and patients according to the same basic principles.
Counterexample
Mere formal similarity without the relationship characteristic of morphosyntactic alignment.
Distinction
Distinguishing ergativity: What is decisive in morphosyntactic alignment is the specific movement—languages do not distinguish between agents and patients along the same basic lines everywhere.
Effect on thought and perception
Languages do not distinguish between agents and patients according to the same basic principles everywhere.
Resonance
Morphosyntactic alignment renders the relationship perceptible as a directed transformation: Languages do not distinguish between agents and patients according to the same basic principles everywhere.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Morphosyntactic alignment“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-119-014. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-119-014The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. A verified modification date per entry is not yet available. Include your access date for precise references.