Middle voice reflexives and argument structure in Baltic
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Axel Holvoet
Abstract
The article deals with Baltic reflexives covering the semantic domain of the middle voice in a narrower sense, that is, the non-anticausative middles as illustrated in constructions like The bread cuts easily. The emphasis is on the Baltic languages, but the data of Slavonic and, to a lesser extent, Germanic are also taken into account. A detailed semantic map is offered showing the relationships between the individual types of middle-voice reflexives, and also paths of diachronic development. One of the main problems singled out for discussion is the argument structure of middle voice reflexives. While anticausatives reflect a valency-reducing operation, the middle-voice constructions discussed in this article do not. In fact, a good case can be made for an inflectional view of these reflexives, and voice would be the most natural notional domain to accommodate them.
Abstract
The article deals with Baltic reflexives covering the semantic domain of the middle voice in a narrower sense, that is, the non-anticausative middles as illustrated in constructions like The bread cuts easily. The emphasis is on the Baltic languages, but the data of Slavonic and, to a lesser extent, Germanic are also taken into account. A detailed semantic map is offered showing the relationships between the individual types of middle-voice reflexives, and also paths of diachronic development. One of the main problems singled out for discussion is the argument structure of middle voice reflexives. While anticausatives reflect a valency-reducing operation, the middle-voice constructions discussed in this article do not. In fact, a good case can be made for an inflectional view of these reflexives, and voice would be the most natural notional domain to accommodate them.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Voice in Baltic 1
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Part I. Causatives
- Lithuanian morphological causatives 39
- Morphological causatives in contemporary Latvian 99
- Extended uses of morphological causatives in Latvian 147
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Part II. Reflexives and middle voice
- Middle voice reflexives and argument structure in Baltic 181
- Converse relations with the reflexive marker in Lithuanian and Polish 211
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Part III. Passives
- Passivization and argument structure in Lithuanian 289
- Solving the puzzle of the Lithuanian passive 323
- Latvian passives – personal, impersonal and evidential 367
- Language index 395
- Name index 397
- Subject index 399
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Voice in Baltic 1
-
Part I. Causatives
- Lithuanian morphological causatives 39
- Morphological causatives in contemporary Latvian 99
- Extended uses of morphological causatives in Latvian 147
-
Part II. Reflexives and middle voice
- Middle voice reflexives and argument structure in Baltic 181
- Converse relations with the reflexive marker in Lithuanian and Polish 211
-
Part III. Passives
- Passivization and argument structure in Lithuanian 289
- Solving the puzzle of the Lithuanian passive 323
- Latvian passives – personal, impersonal and evidential 367
- Language index 395
- Name index 397
- Subject index 399
