Austronesian Alignment - in Tagalog

In Tagalog

A broadly similar system is found in Tagalog, the most thoroughly documented language of this type. In Tagalog, the ergative and accusative have been conflated into an "indirect" case, in contrast to the direct case. (Ng is an abbreviation of the indirect-case particle for common nouns, nang.) Note that the root of the Tagalog verb is basa "to read."

b⟨in⟩asa		ng		tao		ang		aklat.
⟨(past:patient trigger)⟩read		(indirect)		person		(direct)		book

The book was read by a person.

b⟨um⟩asa		ng		aklat		ang		tao.
⟨(past:agent trigger)⟩read		(indirect)		book		(direct)		person

The person read a book.

There are several viewpoints about the nature of the focus system in Tagalog:

• One is that Tagalog focus is voice. The following voices are then posited for Tagalog:

1. Active voice
2. Passive voice (AKA direct passive)
3. Local voice
4. Instrumental/benefactive voice

• Another is that Tagalog focus is case-marking. For example, ang is used when the prepositional phrase is in focus, while sa is used when it is not in focus. In the example given below, note that the root of the Tagalog verb is bilí, which means "to buy."

b⟨in⟩il-hán

ng

tao

ng

aklat

ang

tindahan.

⟨(past:patient trigger)⟩buy-(locative suffix)

(indirect)

person

(indirect)

book

(direct)

store

The book was bought by the person at the store. (Store is the focus.)

b⟨um⟩ilí

ang

tao

ng

aklat

sa

tindahan.

⟨(past:agent trigger)⟩buy

(direct)

person

(indirect)

book

(preposition)

store

The person bought the book at the store. (Person is the focus.)