Middle Voice in Estonian

This paper examines a derivational verbal affix in Estonian, traditionally called a marker of detransitivisation or reflexivisation. The paper argues that this affix is a middle marker, and that Estonian middle semantics generally fits into the domain of the middle voice as described in Kemmer (1993...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the Philological Society 2002-03, Vol.100 (1), p.131-159
Main Author: Vihman, Virve-Anneli
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Estonian language
Grammar
Language
Philology
Semantics
Verbs
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Summary:This paper examines a derivational verbal affix in Estonian, traditionally called a marker of detransitivisation or reflexivisation. The paper argues that this affix is a middle marker, and that Estonian middle semantics generally fits into the domain of the middle voice as described in Kemmer (1993). The account using the middle has greater explanatory power for certain characteristics of these verbs. However, the middle must be defined in terms of what stands in opposition to it in a particular language, and the choices the language provides for describing an event. In Estonian, the middle contrasts primarily with the intransitive and transitive poles, rather than with the reflexive.
ISSN:0079-1636
1467-968X
DOI:10.1111/1467-968X.00092