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Semiotics, Pragmatics & Discourse Analysis, Semantics, Linguistics & Semiotics - General & Miscellaneous, Comparative Grammar
Voice and Inversion by T. Givon — book cover

Voice and Inversion

by T. Givon
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Overview

This collection aims first to establish a structure-independent, language-independent definition of pragmatic voice, and more specifically then a universal functional definition of “inverse”. The grammar and pragmatic function of the four major voice constructions — direct-active, inverse, passive, antipassive — are surveyed using narrative texts from 14 languages: Koyukon (Athabascan), Plains Cree (Algonquian), Chepang (Tibeto-Burman), Squamish and Bella Coola (Salish), Sahaptin (Sahaptian), Kutenai (isolate), Surinam Carib (Carib), Spanish and Greek (Indo-European), Korean, Maasai (Nilotic), Cebuano and Karao (Philippine). The comparative quantified study of pragmatic voice functions tests the validity of a universal functional definition of voice and in particular of “inverse”. The cross-language comparison of grammatical structures that code the various voice functions then lays down the foundation for a non-trivial cross-language typology of “inverse”.

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Book Details

Published
April 1, 1994
Publisher
Benjamins, John Publishing Company
Pages
410
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781556194207

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