How do verb endings in Eskimo languages identify subjects and objects?

In Eskimo languages, verb endings play a critical role in identifying subjects and objects, particularly when dealing with definite objects. The system functions as follows:

• Indefinite Objects: When an object is indefinite, the subject is placed in the absolutive case (similar to a nominative case), and the verb typically appears in a simple form without a suffix referring to the object.1
• Definite Objects: When an object is definite, the subject is placed in the relative case (which also functions as a genitive). In this construction, the verb carries a specific suffix that refers to both the subject and the object simultaneously, effectively encoding the relationship between the two.1
• First and Second Person Objects: If the object is a first or second person, it is marked by a final suffix on the verb, such as in the Yupik example ikayura-a-nga ("he is helping me").1

This structure is part of the ergativity characteristic of the Eskimo-Aleut languages, where grammatical relations are distinguished through these specific case and suffix patterns.12