Directergative

Directergative is a term encountered in some linguistic discussions to describe a proposed alignment pattern in which the direct object of a transitive predicate receives ergative-type marking or is treated in a way that mirrors ergative behaviour in a clause. The label is not standardized across the field, and it does not denote a single, universally agreed-upon grammar. In descriptions where it appears, directergative is typically framed as a way to capture unusual or context-dependent interactions between transitivity, case marking, and clause structure.

In the typological literature, directergative discussions often arise in relation to ergativity, split ergativity, and differential object marking. Some researchers use the term to point to languages or constructions where the direct object shows ergative-like markings in particular environments, such as certain tenses, moods, or voice systems. Others treat the phenomena attributed to directergative as instances of more established patterns—such as split ergativity or differential object marking—instead of positing a separate, stable category. Consequently, there is limited consensus on a precise definition or set of diagnostic criteria for directergative.

Usage and evaluation of the concept remain debated. Proponents argue that the notion highlights genuine cross-linguistic variation in how transitive participation is marked, while opponents warn that it risks conflating distinct mechanisms under an ill-defined label. As a result, directergative tends to appear in theoretical discussions rather than as a widely adopted diagnostic category in descriptive grammars. See also ergativity, absolutive and ergative alignment, differential object marking, and split ergativity.