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Chapter 1. The multifaceted nature of the antipassive construction

  • Katarzyna Janic and Alena Witzlack-Makarevich
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Antipassive
This chapter is in the book Antipassive

Abstract

The present chapter opens the volume by proving an overview of the antipassive construction from the typological perspective. After setting the scene by introducing the major theoretical concepts used in this volume, we consider various aspects of the formal and functional variation of the antipassive construction. First, we show how the antipassive construction varies among languages with respect to the realization of the P argument. We then discuss various aspects of the antipassive marker, including its dedicatedness and obligatoriness, as well as its syncretism with other functions. This chapter also zooms in on various functions performed by the antipassive. In addition to semantic, discourse-pragmatic and syntactic functions commonly recognized in the literature, we also address a less typical stylistic function. Another parameter of variation discussed is the productivity of the antipassive. Finally, this chapter addresses the question of various constructions which formally or functionally overlap with antipassive constructions.

Abstract

The present chapter opens the volume by proving an overview of the antipassive construction from the typological perspective. After setting the scene by introducing the major theoretical concepts used in this volume, we consider various aspects of the formal and functional variation of the antipassive construction. First, we show how the antipassive construction varies among languages with respect to the realization of the P argument. We then discuss various aspects of the antipassive marker, including its dedicatedness and obligatoriness, as well as its syncretism with other functions. This chapter also zooms in on various functions performed by the antipassive. In addition to semantic, discourse-pragmatic and syntactic functions commonly recognized in the literature, we also address a less typical stylistic function. Another parameter of variation discussed is the productivity of the antipassive. Finally, this chapter addresses the question of various constructions which formally or functionally overlap with antipassive constructions.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. The multifaceted nature of the antipassive construction 1
  4. Part 1. Lexical semantics and event representation of antipassive constructions
  5. Chapter 2. Antipassive propensities and alignment 43
  6. Chapter 3. Antipassive in the Cariban family 65
  7. Chapter 4. Aspect and modality in Pama-Nyungan antipassives 97
  8. Chapter 5. Antipassive constructions in Oceanic languages 149
  9. Chapter 6. Antipassive and the lexical meaning of verbs 177
  10. Chapter 7. Unspecified participant 213
  11. Part 2. Antipassive marking
  12. Chapter 8. Variation in the verbal marking of antipassive constructions 249
  13. Chapter 9. Antipassive derivation in Soninke (West Mande) 293
  14. Chapter 10. Explaining the antipassive-causative syncretism in Mocoví (Guaycuruan) 315
  15. Chapter 11. Polyfunctional vanka- in Nivaĉle and the antipassive category 349
  16. Part 3. Diachrony of antipassive constructions
  17. Chapter 12. The antipassive and its relationship to person markers 385
  18. Chapter 13. Antipassive derivations in Sino-Tibetan/Trans-Himalayan and their sources 427
  19. Chapter 14. The profile and development of the Maa (Eastern Nilotic) antipassive 447
  20. Part 4. Fuzzy boundaries
  21. Chapter 15. Indirect antipassive in Circassian 483
  22. Chapter 16. Antipassives in Nakh-Daghestanian languages 515
  23. Chapter 17. Antipassive and antipassive-like constructions in Mayan languages 549
  24. Chapter 18. When an antipassive isn’t an antipassive anymore 579
  25. Chapter 19. Antipassivization in Basque revisited 621
  26. Index 641
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.130.01jan

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. The multifaceted nature of the antipassive construction 1
  4. Part 1. Lexical semantics and event representation of antipassive constructions
  5. Chapter 2. Antipassive propensities and alignment 43
  6. Chapter 3. Antipassive in the Cariban family 65
  7. Chapter 4. Aspect and modality in Pama-Nyungan antipassives 97
  8. Chapter 5. Antipassive constructions in Oceanic languages 149
  9. Chapter 6. Antipassive and the lexical meaning of verbs 177
  10. Chapter 7. Unspecified participant 213
  11. Part 2. Antipassive marking
  12. Chapter 8. Variation in the verbal marking of antipassive constructions 249
  13. Chapter 9. Antipassive derivation in Soninke (West Mande) 293
  14. Chapter 10. Explaining the antipassive-causative syncretism in Mocoví (Guaycuruan) 315
  15. Chapter 11. Polyfunctional vanka- in Nivaĉle and the antipassive category 349
  16. Part 3. Diachrony of antipassive constructions
  17. Chapter 12. The antipassive and its relationship to person markers 385
  18. Chapter 13. Antipassive derivations in Sino-Tibetan/Trans-Himalayan and their sources 427
  19. Chapter 14. The profile and development of the Maa (Eastern Nilotic) antipassive 447
  20. Part 4. Fuzzy boundaries
  21. Chapter 15. Indirect antipassive in Circassian 483
  22. Chapter 16. Antipassives in Nakh-Daghestanian languages 515
  23. Chapter 17. Antipassive and antipassive-like constructions in Mayan languages 549
  24. Chapter 18. When an antipassive isn’t an antipassive anymore 579
  25. Chapter 19. Antipassivization in Basque revisited 621
  26. Index 641
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