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University of Bologna
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Chiara GIANOLLO, University of Pisa - University of Trieste
Middle Voice in Latin and the phenomenon of Split Intransitivity
The principal aim in recent research on verbal voice is to find a general semantic-functional explanation which can account for the creation of diathetic oppositions within languages. This explanation is expected to account also for the interaction between voice and other verbal features, such as actionality and aspect. In this respect, the study of the Latin verbal system can be very significant, expecially if compared to its evolution in the Romance languages. The monumental work by P. Flobert (1975) offers both an incomparable amount of data and interesting challenges from the point of view of a theory of verbal voice. First, Flobert, basing his analysis on the increasing number of deponent verbs (DVs) up to Charlemagne, criticizes the traditional theory which recognizes in DVs just a frozen Indoeuropean inheritance ; secondly, he rejects the importance of the notion of middle voice to explain the existence of DVs and of particular uses of passive voice, and even doubts the existence of an Indoeuropean middle voice.
Instead, here it will be argued that, according to a semantic analysis of the most ancient DVs, a functional interpretation of Latin DVs and, more in general, of Latin verbal voice can be given only by focusing on the notion of middle voice. Voice is shown to be not just a strategy of paradigmatic alternations to signal the thematic role of the subject, but also a device to identify verbs which describe situations that are salient from a semantic-cognitive point of view. According to this interpretation, Latin DVs find an important parallel in well-known phenomena of "split intransitivity" in many Romance languages. It will be argued that the same semantic features and structural needs which govern split intransitivity determine as well the lexical encoding of verbal voice in Latin.
The expansion and the subsequent death of DVs will be independently accounted for, as the effect of analogical forces.
Most recent modifications: February 18, 2003 – latling@classics.unibo.it
Source: Dipartimento di Filologia Classica e Medioevale
No rights can be derived from the information on this Internet-page.
Instead, here it will be argued that, according to a semantic analysis of the most ancient DVs, a functional interpretation of Latin DVs and, more in general, of Latin verbal voice can be given only by focusing on the notion of middle voice. Voice is shown to be not just a strategy of paradigmatic alternations to signal the thematic role of the subject, but also a device to identify verbs which describe situations that are salient from a semantic-cognitive point of view. According to this interpretation, Latin DVs find an important parallel in well-known phenomena of "split intransitivity" in many Romance languages. It will be argued that the same semantic features and structural needs which govern split intransitivity determine as well the lexical encoding of verbal voice in Latin.
The expansion and the subsequent death of DVs will be independently accounted for, as the effect of analogical forces.
Most recent modifications: February 18, 2003 – latling@classics.unibo.it
Source: Dipartimento di Filologia Classica e Medioevale
No rights can be derived from the information on this Internet-page.