Some Observations on the Construct Marker -a in Classical Ethiopic

This contribution offers a discussion of the Classical Ethiopic use of the marker -a to indicate both the direct object and the construct state of nouns. Following a critical evaluation of the explanation of the phenomenon given by Josef Tropper, a few observations are made here which seem to lend support to the idea that the use of the marker in the construct state is in fact a generalization of the accusative ending.