Re: Middle voice

Pablo Flores wrote:

> A question to whoever knows out there:
> What is "middle voice" in verbs?
Well, it's a little complicated.  Middle voice is basically
just what you'd expect it to be: half-way between the active
and passive voices.  But it doesn't mean reflexive (which is
another middle kind of meaning), it means basically that you
are doing something _for_ yourself, that you are acting on
your own behalf, not on someone else's.  For example, if you
are a home contractor, building homes for a living, you would
use the active voice to say "I build houses", while if you were
an individual, building your own home with your own two hands,
then you'd use the middle, because it's on your own behalf that
you are building the house.  At least that's my understanding of
it.  Not too many languages have a middle; Ancient Greek did,
and I think Sanskrit (not sure).  Apparently PIE had *only*
the middle and active; no passive.  The passives naturally developed
from the middle, of course.

Well, I hope that answers your question.


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Tom Wier <artabanos@...>
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Website: <http://www.angelfire.com/tx/eclectorium/>
"Cogito ergo sum, sed credo ergo ero."

We look at [the Tao], and do not see it;
  Its name is the Invisible.
                 - Lao Tsu, _Tao Te Ching_

Nature is wont to hide herself.
                 - Herakleitos
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