Ergative switching in Mabuyag

Abstract

It is the intent of this thesis to examine a rule of syntax in Mabuyag, a language of the Western Torres Strait, and to determine what concerning this rule (called Ergative Swtiching (ES)) is language specific and what falls from a general theory. I show how a rule which appears to be language specific can be better accounted for as a part of a general theory rather than as a language specific fact.