Tikslo (paskirties) naudininkas su bendratimi: norminimo ypatumai
Dative of Goal (Purpose) with the Infinitive: Peculiarities of Standardization

Summary/Abstract: Based on linguists’ corrections, recommendations and standardisation works, the article reviews the tradition of standardization and codification of constructions of the dative of goal (purpose) with the infinitive and the peculiarities of development of the norms. The use of the dative of goal (purpose) with the infinitive has been extensively covered in Lithuanian linguistics. Jonas Jablonskis was the first to describe the dative phrases with the infinitive and their use in the meaning of goal in Cases and Prepositions (1928). The use of these constructions was in the focus of attention of the language standardizers in later times as well. The major question is: can we use the dative with the infinitive in such a sentence which does not have a noun denoting the means for achieving that goal? Juozas Balčikonis argued that only such constructions of the dative with the infinitive should be used, which contain a noun denoting the means for achieving that goal. Such a position was also supported by Vytautas Būda, proposing to establish the correctness of the dative with the infinitive by way of transformations. According to Vytautas Ambrazas, the definition when one or another noun may and may not express a tool or a means is unnecessary. The considerations and corrections proposed by linguists show that it is not easy to set the limits between the dative of goal (purpose) and the object accusative with the infinitive. In principle, it is agreed that the construction of the dative with the infinitive means the purpose of a certain item being a performer or a tool of the action expressed by the infinitive, occasionally – the place or time of the action expressed by the infinitive. After the understanding of the means proposed by J. Balčikonis was expanded, it is agreed today that the norm of the use of the dative is not that strict and that we should not correct all datives used in combination with abstract nouns (Kalbos patarimai 2, S 1, 2003). Most problems arise in the attempt to define when one or another noun can express a tool or a means (the dative is used) and when cannot (the accusative is used). Therefore, diverging evaluations, various discussions show that the criteria for the correct use of the dative and accusative with the infinitive are still unclear and the problem of standardization of the constructions under analysis has not yet been solved.

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