Re: Middle voice

_____
  Carlos Eugenio Thompson Pinzsn
  http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/9028/
-----Mensaje original-----
De: JOEL MATTHEW PEARSON <mpearson@...>
Para: Multiple recipients of list CONLANG <CONLANG@...>
Fecha: Viernes 25 de Septiembre de 1998 15:08
Asunto: Re: Middle voice


>On Fri, 25 Sep 1998, Tom Wier wrote:
>
>> Pablo Flores wrote:
>>
>> > A question to whoever knows out there:
>> > What is "middle voice" in verbs?
>
>That's how the term "middle" is used by Classical grammarians.
>In generative syntax, the term "middle" refers to constructions
>like those in the (c) sentences below:
>
>        (a)  We sell this fruit at the farmer's market.
>        (b)  This fruit is sold at the farmer's market.
>        (c)  This fruit sells well at the farmer's market.
  a) Vendemos esta fruta en el mercado.
  b) Esta fruta es vendida en el mercado (por nosotros).
  c) Esta fruta se vende bien en el mercado.

>        (a)  We drained these fields quickly.
>        (b)  These fields were drained quickly.
>        (c)  These fields drain quickly.

  a) Drenamos rapido estos campos.
  b) Estos campos fueron rapidamente drenados
  c) Estos campos se drenan rapido.

Is the reflexive construccisn, we use in Spanish as pasive, actually a
middle voice?


-- Carlos Th