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Semantic constraints on the Latin impersonal passive

On telicity and agentivity
  • Maria Napoli
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Argument Structure in Flux
This chapter is in the book Argument Structure in Flux

Abstract

This paper focuses on a specific type of impersonal construction in Latin, the so-called impersonal passive, which is based on the third person singular of the passive voice. Using a corpus-based analysis of the Latin data, I will investigate the introduction of a prepositional agentive phrase in impersonal passives, which, although rare, represents a challenge to the functional-typological view of this construction as an agent defocusing strategy. It will be shown that this characterization only partially accounts for the Latin data, since subject demotion is possible also when the agent is highly topical, i.e. definite, referential and human. It will be further suggested that the scalar approach to split intransitivity put forward in Sorace (2000) may throw new light onto the parameters determining the distribution of agentive phrases in Latin; in particular, it will be demonstrated that agentivity acts as the main constraint on the presence/absence of a syntactic agent in the Latin impersonal passive.

Abstract

This paper focuses on a specific type of impersonal construction in Latin, the so-called impersonal passive, which is based on the third person singular of the passive voice. Using a corpus-based analysis of the Latin data, I will investigate the introduction of a prepositional agentive phrase in impersonal passives, which, although rare, represents a challenge to the functional-typological view of this construction as an agent defocusing strategy. It will be shown that this characterization only partially accounts for the Latin data, since subject demotion is possible also when the agent is highly topical, i.e. definite, referential and human. It will be further suggested that the scalar approach to split intransitivity put forward in Sorace (2000) may throw new light onto the parameters determining the distribution of agentive phrases in Latin; in particular, it will be demonstrated that agentivity acts as the main constraint on the presence/absence of a syntactic agent in the Latin impersonal passive.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Argument structure in flux 1
  4. Part I. Argument structure and encoding strategies
  5. Non-canonical subjects in clauses with noun predicates 15
  6. Differential agent marking in Hinuq 33
  7. Case variation and case alternation in Indo-European and beyond 53
  8. Constructional polysemy and argument realisation with the Irish GET verb 87
  9. Part II. Argument structure and verb classes
  10. Latin preverbs and verb argument structure 119
  11. Experiencing linking 135
  12. Introduce 169
  13. On the relationship between lexical aspect, verbal meaning, and (lexical) argument structure 201
  14. Four Romanian verbs of occurring 231
  15. Part III. Unexpressed arguments
  16. The pro cycle 257
  17. Argument promotion and SE-constructions in Brazilian Portuguese 285
  18. Unaccusativity and the diachrony of null and cognate objects in Greek 307
  19. Part IV. Split intransitivity
  20. Split intransitivity in Irish and the syntax-semantics interface 345
  21. Semantic constraints on the Latin impersonal passive 373
  22. Auxiliary selection in German 405
  23. Tornar and volver 435
  24. Part V. Existential and presentational constructions
  25. Control and the evolution of possessive and existential constructions 461
  26. Existential constructions 477
  27. Variation and change in the presentational constructions of north-western Italo-Romance varieties 511
  28. Argument realization and existential pro-forms in early Italo-Romance 549
  29. Author index 567
  30. Language and topic index 573
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.131.14nap

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Argument structure in flux 1
  4. Part I. Argument structure and encoding strategies
  5. Non-canonical subjects in clauses with noun predicates 15
  6. Differential agent marking in Hinuq 33
  7. Case variation and case alternation in Indo-European and beyond 53
  8. Constructional polysemy and argument realisation with the Irish GET verb 87
  9. Part II. Argument structure and verb classes
  10. Latin preverbs and verb argument structure 119
  11. Experiencing linking 135
  12. Introduce 169
  13. On the relationship between lexical aspect, verbal meaning, and (lexical) argument structure 201
  14. Four Romanian verbs of occurring 231
  15. Part III. Unexpressed arguments
  16. The pro cycle 257
  17. Argument promotion and SE-constructions in Brazilian Portuguese 285
  18. Unaccusativity and the diachrony of null and cognate objects in Greek 307
  19. Part IV. Split intransitivity
  20. Split intransitivity in Irish and the syntax-semantics interface 345
  21. Semantic constraints on the Latin impersonal passive 373
  22. Auxiliary selection in German 405
  23. Tornar and volver 435
  24. Part V. Existential and presentational constructions
  25. Control and the evolution of possessive and existential constructions 461
  26. Existential constructions 477
  27. Variation and change in the presentational constructions of north-western Italo-Romance varieties 511
  28. Argument realization and existential pro-forms in early Italo-Romance 549
  29. Author index 567
  30. Language and topic index 573
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