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Article In: Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area
Vol. 49:2 (2026) ► pp.300–317

From ergative to genitive

The evolution of genitive marker in Nyagrong Minyag

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Abstract
While most of the Horpic languages have a genitive marker with a j- initial, the genitive marker in Nyagrong Minyag seems to correspond to the ergative marker in the other Horpic languages, which suggests the change from ergative to genitive in Nyagrong Minyag. This article analyzes the semantic shift of this genitive marker in Nyagrong Minyag from a diachronic point of view, along with synchronic analyses and typological evidence.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Data sources
  • 2.Ergative and genitive markers in Horpa
    • 2.1Geshiza
    • 2.2Mazur Stau
    • 2.3Phosi
    • 2.4Nyagrong Minyag
      • 2.4.1Shodring variety of Manchen
      • 2.4.2Ri ’Dabs variety of Manchen
      • 2.4.3Bangsmad
      • 2.4.4Yangslagshis
      • 2.4.5Proto-Nyagrong-Minyag
  • 3.Ergative-genitive syncretism
    • 3.1Themchen Amdo Tibetan
    • 3.2Yup’ik
    • 3.3Nez perce
    • 3.4Ergative > genitive in Nyagrong Minyag
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • Author queries
  • References
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