THE ANIMACY HIERARCHY AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE NOTAE AUGENTES IN OLD IRISH

Abstract

Abstract:A previously unknown restriction on the notae augentes in Old Irish is demonstrated here: the appearance of a nota augens after a verb containing an infixed pronoun is governed by a rigid and exceptionless hierarchy that is sensitive to the person of the subject and object, as well as to whether the subject and object are human or non-human. It is further demonstrated that the notae augentes of the third person refer (almost) exclusively to humans.