On a particular usage of the locative and accusative cases in Burgenland Croatian

Abstract

This article discusses the semantics and syntax of bare locative and accusative cases, such as ona je ? crikviloc. (lit.: She is church, ?She is in church?) and ona gre ? crikvuacc. (lit.: She goes church, ?She goes to church?) in Burgenland Croatian. Previous studies have indicated the existence of such phenomena in this language but have not analyzed the specific semantic and grammatical features of these constructions in historical and typological contexts. The author describes the specific usage of the previously mentioned constructions to demonstrate the conditions in which they are used. The article then considers whether the constructions are relics from Proto-Slavic, inherited from North Cakavian, or a later development in Burgenland. As a result of the analysis, the author concludes tentatively that the constructions in question emerged independently in Burgenland.