@article{bois1987discourse,
  source = {jstor},
  ISSN = {0097-8507},
  abstract = {This paper examines the phenomenon of ergativity and its relation to patterns of surface grammar and information flow in discourse. Corresponding to the grammatical pattern of ergativity (exemplified in the A vs. S/O distribution of verbal cross-referencing morphology in Sacapultec Maya) there is an isomorphic pattern of information flow: information distribution among argument positions in clauses of spoken discourse is not random, but grammatically skewed toward an ergative pattern. Arguments comprising new information appear preferentially in the S or O roles, but not in the A role-which leads to formulation of a Given A Constraint. Evidence from other languages suggests that the ergative patterning of discourse extends beyond the ergative type to encompass accusative languages as well. Given the linguistic consequences of a type-independent Preferred Argument Structure, it is argued that language-internal phenomena as fundamental as the structuring of grammatical relations can be shaped by forces arising out of discourse, viewed as the aggregate of instances of language use.},
  author = {Bois, John W. Du},
  copyright = {Copyright 1987 Linguistic Society of America},
  journal = {Language},
  jstor_articletype = {Full Length Article},
  jstor_date = {198712},
  jstor_formatteddate = {Dec., 1987},
  month = {dec},
  number = {4},
  pages = {805--855},
  publisher = {Linguistic Society of America},
  title = {The Discourse Basis of Ergativity},
  url = {http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0097-8507%28198712%2963%3A4%3C805%3ATDBOE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-4},
  volume = {63},
  year = {1987},
}