Re: Tagalog & trigger idea: I'd like comments. :)

On Sat, Nov 20, 2004 at 08:32:47PM -0500, John Cowan wrote:
> H. S. Teoh scripsit:
>
> > I agree. If we drop the expectation that voice systems should have one
> > predominantly preferred voice, and that "active" and "passive" are a
> > necessary subset of the voices, then Tagalog fits the mold quite well.
>
> Well, the trouble is that almost all voice systems are about demoting a
> particular NP role to non-core (passive, antipassive) or making it
> impossible altogether (some kinds of middle).  There are systems with
> an inverse voice, but they're rare.  So if Tagalog has a voice system,
> it's a very atypical one.
[...]

True. As the thesis in one of Tim's URLs[1] postulated, Tagalog's
system is a "symmetrical voice system". It also mentions that
Kwakwala, an Amerindian NW coast language, also has a similar
symmetrical voice system. AFAIK, Kwakwala is not related to Tagalog,
so symmetrical voice systems aren't as unique as one might expect.

[1] http://www.sultry.arts.usyd.edu.au/LFG98/austro/foley/fintro.htm


T

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