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Linglib.Fragments.Mayan.Kaqchikel.AgentFocus

Kaqchikel Agent Focus Fragment @cite{erlewine-2016} #

Theory-neutral typological data for Agent Focus (AF) in Kaqchikel (K'ichean, Mayan): verb-form types, the empirical extraction profile, and the typological AF/extraction-gap classification.

The theory-laden apparatus that interprets this data lives in study files per the project Fragment-discipline rule (CLAUDE.md):

The Paradigm #

Extracted argVerb formAgreement
None (declarative)TransitiveSet A + Set B
Patient/AbsTransitiveSet A + Set B
Agent/Erg (local)AF (-Vn)Set B only
Agent/Erg (long)TransitiveSet A + Set B

AF is obligatory for clause-local agent extraction and ungrammatical for patient extraction or long-distance agent extraction — it is not a free alternation but a locality-sensitive, structurally conditioned repair. The structural analysis (SSAL ≫ XRef OT competition) lives in the Erlewine2016 study file.

Verbal morphology in a Kaqchikel clause: either the normal transitive form (with Set A ergative agreement) or Agent Focus (with -Vn and no Set A).

  • transitive : VerbForm

    Normal transitive: Set A (erg) + Set B (abs) agreement.

  • agentFocus : VerbForm

    Agent Focus: suffix -Vn, Set B only, no Set A (erg).

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      An extraction datum: which argument is extracted and which verb form surfaces.

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          Agent extraction (clause-local) requires AF.

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            Agent extraction with normal transitive (clause-local) is ungrammatical.

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              Patient extraction uses normal transitive.

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                Long-distance agent extraction uses normal transitive, NOT AF. When the agent extracts from an embedded clause, it passes through intermediate Spec,CP positions via successive-cyclic movement. Each step crosses enough structure to satisfy SSAL — the too-local Spec,TP → Spec,CP step within the embedded clause is avoided.

                This is the key evidence that AF is triggered by locality of movement, not simply by agent extraction (@cite{erlewine-2016} §2.3, examples 21–22).

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                  Kaqchikel's extraction morphology profile: agent focus alternation. Canonical name extractionProfile (uniform with Chol, Q'anjob'al).

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                    Mayan languages vary in whether AF is available, depending on the ranking of SSAL vs XRef. This produces a two-way typological split:

                    • AF languages: SSAL >> XRef. Anti-locality violation is repaired by switching to AF morphology. E.g., Kaqchikel, Q'anjob'al.
                    • Extraction-gap languages: XRef >> SSAL. No AF repair available; clause-local agent extraction is simply ungrammatical. E.g., Chol.

                    Both types share the same underlying problem (SSAL blocks clause-local agent extraction); they differ only in whether the grammar provides a repair strategy.

                    • afLanguage : MayanAFType

                      SSAL >> XRef: AF available as repair for anti-locality.

                    • extractionGap : MayanAFType

                      XRef >> SSAL: no repair; extraction gap.

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                        AF does not bear Set A (ergative) agreement.

                        Normal transitive does bear Set A agreement.

                        Kaqchikel voice system: two-way asymmetrical (transitive/AF).

                        Not a true pivot system — AF is a locality-sensitive repair for clause-local agent extraction, not a symmetric voice alternation. Transitive is the basic form; AF is derived (triggered by SSAL).

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                          Both Kaqchikel voices promote agent — AF is not a patient-promoting voice but an alternative agent-extracting structure.

                          Kaqchikel is NOT an active/passive system: it lacks a patient-promoting voice.