Ergativity in Dashti

This paper presents a descriptive account of ergativity in the Dashti dialect of Buhsher. To illustrate ergativity in Dashti، the behavior of intransitive subject، transitive subject and direct object are analyzed with respect to their ability to induce agreement on the verb. The similar behavior of transitive and intransitive subjects، as opposed to the direct objects، points to the nominative-accusative alignment in the present tense in Dashti. However، the similar behavior of the intransitive subject and direct object، in contrast to the transitive subject، portrays split ergativity in the past tense clauses in Dashti. It will also be shown that ergativity in Dashti is of the morphological type without deeper consequences for the syntax. The distinct distribution of affixes and clitics، on which much of cross-reference in Dashti is based، will be discussed as well.