Topic: Syn-Sem Interface
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. The semantics of middles and its crosslinguistic realization
By Marika Lekakou
This study explores the ways in which the semantics of personal middle constructions is encoded across languages. In Dutch, German and English, middles are syntactically unergative and the implicit Agent is syntactically inert. In Greek and French, middles are syntactically indistinguishable from generic passives: they exhibit a derived subject and a syntactically represented Agent. What unites the two types of middle is the interpretation they receive. The cross-linguistic variation invites the following question: what determines the choice of structure employed to convey the middle interpretation?
keywords: middles, genericity, aspect, reflexives, syntax, semantics
Source: http://ling.auf.net/lingBuzz/000122
Posted by Tony Marmo
at 16:30 GMT
