Open-access Middle constructions and transitivity alternations in Toba language (Guaycuruan Family)

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes middle constructions in toba language (Guaycuruan family) from a typological and functional approach. It is argued here that middle voice is coded with verbal paradigm n- and shows typical characteristics of a basic voice system (Klaiman 1991). The aim of this study is to describe within the heterogeneous continuum of middle constructions in this language, several transitivity alternations such as applicatives, reflexive (-laɁt), reciprocal (-aɁt), which coocurres with middle alternates verbs. The middle voice in this language is a complex semantic category that does not only involve semantic-syntactic detransitivization.

Keywords: Middle voice; transitivity; verbal valence; functional tipology

location_on
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - PUC-SP PUC-SP - LAEL, Rua Monte Alegre 984, 4B-02, São Paulo, SP 05014-001, Brasil, Tel.: +55 11 3670-8374 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: delta@pucsp.br
rss_feed Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS
Acessibilidade / Reportar erro