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):
- OT competing-derivations + SSAL/XRef constraints + ranking →
Phenomena/FillerGap/Studies/Erlewine2016.lean - Minimalist Voice/ClauseSpine for Kaqchikel →
Phenomena/Ergativity/Studies/CoonMateoPedroPreminger2014.lean
The Paradigm #
| Extracted arg | Verb form | Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| None (declarative) | Transitive | Set A + Set B |
| Patient/Abs | Transitive | Set A + Set B |
| Agent/Erg (local) | AF (-Vn) | Set B only |
| Agent/Erg (long) | Transitive | Set 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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- Fragments.Mayan.Kaqchikel.instDecidableEqVerbForm x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯
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Does this verb form bear ergative (Set A) agreement?
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Does this verb form bear the AF suffix -Vn?
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An extraction datum: which argument is extracted and which verb form surfaces.
- extracted : Typology.ArgumentRole
- verbForm : VerbForm
- judgment : Typology.ExtractionMarkingStrategy
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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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- Fragments.Mayan.Kaqchikel.instDecidableEqMayanAFType x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯
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Kaqchikel is an AF language (SSAL >> XRef).
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AF does not bear Set A (ergative) agreement.
Normal transitive does bear Set A agreement.
AF bears the -Vn suffix.
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.