The personal dative in Appalachian speech*

Abstract

The personal dative surfaces in the internal indirect object position when a direct object is present. There may be some differences in the frequencies with which the personal dative structure occurs for different nouns. The structure can be found much more frequently with first- and second-person subjects than with third-person, singular or plural, subjects. In this chapter, the authors examines the possible relationship between these personal datives and the other dative constructions. In the examination of Appalachian speech, the authors shows that the personal dative bears a strong relationship to for-dative constructions in meaning, and a somewhat less strong one in form. The personal dative is a relatively unstressed element in the clause. It is restricted to animate referents, but not necessarily human ones. The authors concludes that the personal dative is a low-stressed indirect-object-like structure, which carries a 'light' benefactive meaning.

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