datiivkääneline

Datiivkääneline refers to a grammatical construction found in some languages where the indirect object, typically expressed with a dative case, is instead expressed using a different case, often the genitive or accusative, with a preposition. This phenomenon is not about the dative case itself disappearing, but rather about how the semantic role of the indirect object is realized syntactically. In essence, the function of the dative as marking the recipient or beneficiary of an action is taken over by another case form, often accompanied by a preposition that semantically aligns with the dative function, such as indicating direction or target.

Languages that exhibit datiivkääneline may have undergone historical sound changes or grammatical shifts that affected the dative case. Instead of relying solely on case endings, speakers might use a prepositional phrase to convey the same meaning. For example, a language might use "to X" (preposition + a case) where another language would simply use the dative of X. This can lead to variations in how indirect objects are marked across related languages or dialects. The specific prepositions and cases involved in datiivkääneline vary widely depending on the language family and individual language. Understanding this concept is crucial for comparative linguistics and for accurately analyzing the grammatical structure of languages that exhibit this feature.