The new impersonal as a true passive
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Jóhannes Gísli Jónsson
Abstract
This paper discusses a new impersonal construction in Icelandic. This construction has passive morphology but differs from canonical passives of transitive verbs in that the DP complement of the passive participle stays in situ and displays object properties. Contra Maling & Sigurjónsdóttir (2002), I argue that this is a true passive, not an active construction with a thematic null subject. As illustrated in the paper, there are some clear similarities between canonical passives and new impersonals that support a passive analysis of the latter construction but no clear differences to justify an active analysis.
Abstract
This paper discusses a new impersonal construction in Icelandic. This construction has passive morphology but differs from canonical passives of transitive verbs in that the DP complement of the passive participle stays in situ and displays object properties. Contra Maling & Sigurjónsdóttir (2002), I argue that this is a true passive, not an active construction with a thematic null subject. As illustrated in the paper, there are some clear similarities between canonical passives and new impersonals that support a passive analysis of the latter construction but no clear differences to justify an active analysis.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Advances in Comparative Germanic Syntax vii
-
Part I. Cartography and the left periphery
- On a ( wh -)moved Topic in Italian, compared to Germanic 3
- C-agreement or something close to it 41
- Uncharted territory? 59
- Bootstrapping verb movement and the clausal architecture of German (and other languages) 85
- A conjunction conspiracy at the West Germanic left periphery 119
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Part II. Word order and movement
- Reconsidering odd coordination in German 151
- The syntax and semantics of the temporal anaphor “then” in Old and Middle English 171
- Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’ 197
- Holmberg’s Generalization 219
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Part III. Thematic relations and NP realization
- The No Case Generalization 249
- The new impersonal as a true passive 281
- Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase 307
-
Part IV. Finiteness and modality
- Experiencers with (un)willingness 327
- Finiteness 357
- Index of subjects & languages 391
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Advances in Comparative Germanic Syntax vii
-
Part I. Cartography and the left periphery
- On a ( wh -)moved Topic in Italian, compared to Germanic 3
- C-agreement or something close to it 41
- Uncharted territory? 59
- Bootstrapping verb movement and the clausal architecture of German (and other languages) 85
- A conjunction conspiracy at the West Germanic left periphery 119
-
Part II. Word order and movement
- Reconsidering odd coordination in German 151
- The syntax and semantics of the temporal anaphor “then” in Old and Middle English 171
- Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’ 197
- Holmberg’s Generalization 219
-
Part III. Thematic relations and NP realization
- The No Case Generalization 249
- The new impersonal as a true passive 281
- Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase 307
-
Part IV. Finiteness and modality
- Experiencers with (un)willingness 327
- Finiteness 357
- Index of subjects & languages 391
