doubledative

Doubledative is a term used in linguistics to describe a grammatical construction where two dative case markers appear consecutively. This phenomenon is not a common feature of many languages and can arise in various ways, often related to specific verb constructions, prepositions, or idiomatic expressions. The exact grammatical function and meaning of doubledatives can vary significantly between languages that exhibit them.

In some languages, a doubledative might indicate a double recipient or a recipient of a recipient, though this is not always a literal interpretation. For instance, in certain ancient or classical languages, such constructions could convey nuances of indirectness or emphasis. Modern languages that feature doubledatives often do so through a combination of verb valency and prepositional requirements, or as remnants of older grammatical structures.

The study of doubledatives is important for understanding the evolution of case systems and the diverse ways languages express grammatical relationships. Linguists analyze these structures to gain insights into the underlying principles of sentence formation and semantic interpretation. While not universally present, the existence of doubledatives highlights the complexity and flexibility of human language.