2008/02/26 by Carolyn J. MacKay, Frank R. Trechsel · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · Mathematics · #Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation #Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies #Phonetics and Phonology Research #Object (grammar) #Verb #Transitive relation #Linguistics #Argument (complex analysis) #Reflexive verb #Computer science #Phenomenon #Artificial intelligence #Natural language processing #Mathematics #Physics #Modal verb #Philosophy #Combinatorics #Biology
paper · doi:10.1086/587705
openalex publication_date 2008/02/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/30
In this paper, we present evidence that Misantla Totonac, a Totonac‐Tepehua language spoken in the vicinity of Misantla, Veracruz, in Mexico, is a symmetrical object language in the sense of Bresnan and Moshi (1990). Specifically, we demonstrate that in Misantla Totonac both of the objects of a ditransitive verb exhibit the behavior of the single object of a transitive verb. Our argument is based on the phenomenon of double object marking in which each of the objects of a ditransitive verb controls object agreement. We also consider the processes of reflexivization and reciprocalization and demonstrate that one object of a ditransitive verb can be reflexivized or reciprocalized while the other controls object agreement. It is the ability of the two objects to exhibit these object properties simultaneously that establishes Misantla Totonac as a symmetrical object language.