# Is the Hattic verb aligned actively, ergatively or accusatively, and what does each verbal prefix mark? · Hattic, Kassite and the half-read languages of the cuneiform archives > Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDX2TX7CR0/is-the-hattic-verb-aligned-actively-ergatively-or Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T15:46:01+00:00 --- **0** # Is the Hattic verb aligned actively, ergatively or accusatively, and what does each verbal prefix mark? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What language family, if any, does Hattic belong to?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDWJQ8EC4K/what-language-family-if-any-does-hattic-belong-to)·2 answers·0·0 following **Two answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The three current grammars disagree on the prefix chain; settling it fixes how every Hattic sentence in the bilinguals is parsed and what typological profile any comparison must match. ## Answers 2 [**Hattic is an active language with an ergative base: an- marks the agent of a transitive verb, zero marks the patient…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/answers/ANS0DEDZAC8MVBC/hattic-is-an-active-language-with-an-ergative-base-an-marks) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**Hattic is nominative-accusative, and the variation between an- and zero reflects other categories (tense, aspect or…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/answers/ANS0DEDZAM7YX8B/hattic-is-nominative-accusative-and-the-variation-between-an) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible ## History 1. 1969[Annelies Kammenhuber: the earlier grammars of Kammenhuber and Girbal describe the prefix slots without an active or ergative alignment.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKZPPSSF4/das-hattische)For: Hattic is nominative-accusative, and the variation between an- and zero reflects other categories (tense, aspect or… 1. 1986[Christian Girbal: the earlier grammars of Kammenhuber and Girbal describe the prefix slots without an active or ergative alignment.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDM0038762/beitrage-zur-grammatik-des-hattischen)For: Hattic is nominative-accusative, and the variation between an- and zero reflects other categories (tense, aspect or… 1. 2010[Petra M. Goedegebuure: in the bilinguals both an- and zero occur with intransitive verbs, and Goedegebuure ties the choice to whether the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK11B08GB/the-alignment-of-hattian-an-active-language-with-an-ergative)For: Hattic is an active language with an ergative base: an- marks the agent of a transitive verb, zero marks the patient… 1. 2010[Petra M. Goedegebuure: goedegebuure rejects scribal error as the explanation for an- and zero with intransitive verbs and finds a semantic…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK11B08GB/the-alignment-of-hattian-an-active-language-with-an-ergative)Against: Hattic is nominative-accusative, and the variation between an- and zero reflects other categories (tense, aspect or… 1. 2012[Zsolt Simon: schrijver's 2018 analysis of the same prefix chain and Simon's 2012 grammar reach different accounts of the Hattic verb.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDNB765Y0E/untersuchungen-zur-hattischen-grammatik-phonologie)Against: Hattic is an active language with an ergative base: an- marks the agent of a transitive verb, zero marks the patient… 1. 2018[Peter Schrijver: schrijver's 2018 analysis of the same prefix chain and Simon's 2012 grammar reach different accounts of the Hattic verb.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKB262QQ9/the-verbal-syntax-of-hattian)Against: Hattic is an active language with an ergative base: an- marks the agent of a transitive verb, zero marks the patient… 1. 31 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDX2TX7CR0/is-the-hattic-verb-aligned-actively-ergatively-or%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDX2TX7CR0/is-the-hattic-verb-aligned-actively-ergatively-or%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDX2TX7CR0/is-the-hattic-verb-aligned-actively-ergatively-or%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDX2TX7CR0/is-the-hattic-verb-aligned-actively-ergatively-or%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDX2TX7CR0/is-the-hattic-verb-aligned-actively-ergatively-or%23add-source) Where it fits Hattic, Kassite and the half-read languages of the cuneiform archives [**What language family, if any, does Hattic belong to?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hattic-kassite-lost-languages/questions/QST0DEDWJQ8EC4K/what-language-family-if-any-does-hattic-belong-to)Key question · 6 answers, inconclusive **Is the Hattic verb aligned actively, ergatively or accusatively, and what does each verbal prefix mark?** You're here · 2 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]