Knowledge base · Part X — The Personal-Affix System and Alignment · this topic as a network
66. Object Indexing: Monotransitive and Ditransitive Clauses
How do transitive and ditransitive verbs index their objects, including subject/object asymmetries and ditransitive alignment?
The O set in the person paradigm
What personal prefixes index the object of a monotransitive verb?
Ainu makes no formal distinction between direct objects and indirect objects. (Bugaeva 2012: 478–479) Objective person affixes can express either an accusative or a dative semantic relation depending on the verb and context. (Satō 2008: 121) In three-place verbs, direct and indirect objects cannot be marked simultaneously by overt person affixes. (Satō 2025) A ditransitive verb takes an object agreement marker for only one of its objects, prioritizing first- or second-person objects within a two-marker limit. (Bugaeva 2006: 188) A single verb cannot index two objects simultaneously with overt affixes, and three-argument verbs index only the human recipient. (Satō 2008: 147) Ditransitive indexing on kore 'give' exhibits a secundative pattern where the recipient is treated as the primary object. (Satō 2023) In kore 'give', personal affixes index only the agent and the recipient, leaving no slot for person indexing of the theme. (Satō 2023) A pronominal goal or indirect object is typically marked on the verb by an object personal affix. (Shibatani 1990: 34) In ditransitive clauses with a personal indirect object and an inanimate direct object, the indirect object is marked on the verb. (Shibatani 1990: 34) Unlike Indo-European languages such as French or Russian, Ainu obligatorily marks person for the object as well as the subject. (Nakagawa 2024: 169) Objective personal affixes (with a third-person subject) are en= for first-person singular, un= for first-person plural, e= for second-person singular, es= in Ishikari dialect and eci= in other dialects for second-person plural, unmarked (zero) for third person, and i= for fourth person. (Nakagawa 2024: 170) Because only one object can be indexed on an Ainu verb, whether that indexed object corresponds to an accusative ('-o'), dative ('-ni'), or ablative ('-kara') semantic role in Japanese must be inferred from the verb and its context. (Satō 2008: 148)
First-person singular object: en=
How is first-person singular object indexed, and how does it contrast with subject indexing?
Accusative personal affixes attach to transitive verbs, postpositions, and relational nouns. (Murasaki 2025: 27)
First-person plural exclusive object: un=
How is first-person plural exclusive object indexed, and what is the tripartite pattern for this person?
Second-person objects: e= and eci=
How are second-person objects indexed, and what ambiguity arises from role-neutral forms?
In Chitose Ainu, there is no personal affix combination like *ku-i- meaning 'I ... you'. (Satō 2008: 212)
Fourth-person object: i=
What are the referential uses of the fourth-person object prefix i=, and how is it analyzed?
In the Classical language objective conjugation of Class I verbs, first person is i-, second person is e- (singular) and echi- (plural), and third person is unmarked. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) In the classical language, a third-person subject acting on a first-person object is marked by the prefix i-. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) In the expressions i-ronronke and i-hochirkar, the prefix i- functions as an ethical dative. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936)
Zero third-person object
How is third-person object indexed, and what verb forms occur with third-person subject and object?
In transitive verbs, third-person objects are indexed by a zero morpheme (φ-), so that apparent 'nominative conjugation' of transitive verbs is strictly speaking a combined subject-object conjugation with a third-person object. (Satō 2008: 111) The third-person singular and plural objective forms have no overt affix (represented as zero morpheme φ-). (Satō 2008: 120) In Classical Ainu, third-person object marking is zero for both singular and plural. (Shibatani 1990: 26)