Theoretical Aspects of Passivization in the Framework of Applicative Grammar
Published on 1. January 1985
Book
Paperback/Softback
115 pages
978-0-915027-67-5 (ISBN)
Description
Passivization is explained by using the formalism of combinatory logic. The agented passive is derived from the agentless as follows: a term denoting an agent is transposed into a predicate modifier and applied to the passive predicate of the agentless construction. The passive predicate consists of two parts: 1) the two-place converse of the active predicate and 2) a zero unspecified term to which the converse predicate is applied. The passive is not derived from but is related to the active. The modifier of the passive predicate is the functional counterpart of the subject in the active. The proposed hypothesis gives an adequate solution to problems arising from various types of passive constructions. Passivization and antipassivization are defined as instances of a general cross-linguistic process involving conversion.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Amsterdam/Philadelphia
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 160 mm
Weight
200 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-915027-67-5 (9780915027675)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
1. Acknowledgments; 2. 1. Introduction: Background and Goals; 3. 2. An Outline of Applicative Grammar; 4. 3. Passivization and Applicative Grammar; 5. 4. The Classical Conversion Hypothesis; 6. 5. Applicative Grammar and Hierarchical Theories; 7. 6. Arguments for the Abstract Conversion Hypothesis; 8. 6.1. The problem of the active-passive relation; 9. 6.2. The problem of agented-agentless relations; 10. 6.3. Unspecified term in passive constructions; 11. 6.4. 'By' as a transposer of a term in passive constructions; 12. 6.5. The significance of the converse predicate; 13. 7. A Generalization of the Notions of Transitive and Intransitive Constructions; 14. 7.1. Non-universality of the notions of subject and direct object; 15. 7.2. A uniform definition of passive and antipassive constructions; 16. 7.3. The grammatical and lexical notions of agent; 17. 8. A Formal Theory of Passivization; 18. 8.1. The notion of type; 19. 8.2. Agentless and agented passive constructions; 20. 8.3. Formal reduction from the agented passive construction; 21. 8.4. Intransitive passive constructions; 22. 8.5. Impersonal passive constructions; 23. 8.6. Passivization of the tertiary term; 24. 8.7. Formal passive predicates; 25. 9. Conclusion: Fundamental Functions of Passivization; 26. Appendix: Some Combinators Used in Linguistics; 27. References