Argconjugateei

Argconjugateei is a hypothetical verb-conjugation system used in linguistic typology and in the design of constructed languages to illustrate how argument structure can be encoded directly on the verb. The name combines a reference to argument structure with conjugation and a characteristic suffix, -ei, used in example inventories of the paradigm. It is not attested in natural languages and exists primarily as a theoretical or pedagogical construct.

Morphology and alignment

The Argconjugateei system marks the core participants of a clause—the agent (A) and the patient (P)—and, in ditransitives, a recipient (IO). The verb stem carries a fixed envelope of affixes: prefixes that encode voice (for example, active or antipassive) and mood, and a suffixal chain that encodes the argument roles in a designated order (A, P, IO). Tense or aspect is expressed by a separate final suffix, while person and number of the arguments are represented within the affixal pattern. The result is a highly inflected verb form that constitutes the primary locus of agreement in the clause.

Usage and typology

Argconjugateei is primarily a theoretical and pedagogical tool for exploring interactions among valency, voice, and argument marking. It provides a contrasting point to nominative–accusative and ergative–absolutive systems by embedding role information in the verb itself. In constructed-language practice, it serves as a case study for comparing how different verb-morphology strategies encode argument structure and cross-clause agreement.

History

The term arose in contemporary linguistic discussions and online conlang communities as a convenient label for a fully affixal, argument-bearing verb paradigm. It is used mainly to illustrate typological possibilities rather than to describe an attested natural language.

See also

Conjugation, Verb morphology, Valency, Argument structure, Constructed language, Typology, Ergative–absolutive, Nominative–accusative.