Abstract

The hierarchy of grammatical functions currently employed by harmonic alignment (Aissen 1999a) makes use of the distinction between the core relations of subject and object. Evidence from languages with unregistered objects indicates that this hierarchy must be expanded to include a restricted set of objects as well. For example, a certain type of derived intransitive clause in Halkomelem Salish results in a ranking paradox under the normal conception of harmonic alignment due to the unexpected presence of an object in an intransitive construction. To relieve the pressures that these objects place on accounting for valency distinctions, it is proposed that constraints refer to both objects and to a class of restricted objects in order to make the distinction between transitive constructions and intransitives with objects.