Universal 259: primary topicalization ⇒ accusative alignment

Original: In ergative and active languages only secondary topicalization, by means of changing the word order in the sentence, is possible. Primary topicalization or subjectivization – choosing either agent or patient as subject – is not possible in these languages. This is due to the fact that in ergative languages transitive verbs lack the opposition of an active and passive voice and in active languages the version opposition is of a non-voice character.
Standardized: IF alignment is ergative or active, THEN primary and secondary topicalization cannot be by means of diathesis/voice alternations, but only by means of word order changes.
Keywords: topicalization, diathesis, verbal voice, passive, version, alignment, active, ergative
Domain: inflection, syntax
Type: implication
Status: achronic
Quality: absolute
Basis: unspecified
Source: Klimov 1973: 95, Klimov 1977: 143, referring to Fillmore 1968: 57-59

FP