The Syntax of Norwegian Passive Constructions

This book provides an analysis of the passive phenomenon in general and of Norwegian passive constructions in particular. Related topics such as English passive constructions and Norwegian ergative constructions are also examined. The analysis is carried out within a Government and Binding framework...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Afarli, Tor A
Format eBook
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands John Benjamins Publishing Company 1992
John Benjamins
Edition1
SeriesLinguistik Artuell/Linguistics Today S
Subjects
Language
Norwegian language
Passive voice
Syntax
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Summary:This book provides an analysis of the passive phenomenon in general and of Norwegian passive constructions in particular. Related topics such as English passive constructions and Norwegian ergative constructions are also examined. The analysis is carried out within a Government and Binding framework. Chapter 1 contains a very brief introduction to GB syntax and a description of the passive phenomenon and its manifestation in Norwegian. The "orthodox analysis" of the passive as proposed in Chomsky's Lectures on Government and Binding is contrasted with the "new analysis", which claims that "the passive morpheme" is an argument of the verb. The book sets out to show that a version of this "new analysis" successfully explains the basic properties of Norwegian passives. Chapters 2 and 3 examine properties of Norwegian passives, notably properties related to Theta-role assignment and Case assignment. Chapter 4 compares the Norwegian with the English passive and proposes a unified analysis of the two. Chapter 5 discusses various cases of passivization failure in Norwegian , while Chapter 6 focuses on the scope of movement in passive and ergative constructions in Norwegian and proposes a syntactic level "beneath" D-structure.
ISBN:9027282447
9789027282446
9789027227270
9027227276