Universität zu Köln

Korobzow, Natalie ORCID: 0000-0002-2814-2081 (2025). Split Ergativity in Ch’orti’ Maya: A Contribution to a Diachronic Typology of Alignment Change. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

This dissertation provides a new historical explanation for the alignment split and the third set of indexes ("set C") in Ch’orti’ Maya. Using the historical-comparative method and diachronic typological analysis, this study challenges existing theories that derive set C from set A and instead proposes that set C originates from set B in its use as part of the independent pronoun paradigm, which is attested in Hieroglyphic Maya. On the typological side, the thesis highlights the role of discourse-driven syntactic reanalysis in the development of alignment systems and demonstrates how focus structures can serve as a bridge for the evolution of grammar.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Korobzow, Natalie korobzownatalie@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2814-2081 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-754211
Date:	16 March 2025
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 1: Kunstgeschichte, Musikwissenschaft, Medienkultur und Theater, Linguistik, IDH > Institut für Linguistik
Subjects:	Language, Linguistics Other languages
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Mayan English Historical-comparative linguistics English Diachronic typology English Alignment English Ergative-absolutive English
Date of oral exam:	14 May 2024
Referee:	Name Academic Title Hill, Eugen Prof. Dr. Reinöhl, Uta Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/75421