This study provides cross-linguistic data to substantiate the typology of causative contructions on the basis of which a diachronic model of causative affixes has been proposed in Song [Lingua 82:151-200(1990)].Three types of causative contructions are identified and exemplified: the compact type, the AND type and the PURP type. The study closes with a diachronic question whether the semantic neutralization of the purpose markers occurs initially in causatives. [reprinted from Languages of the World n°5/1992].