Discourse Functions of the Active-passive Dichotomy in English

Abstract:

It is hypothesized that the primary function of the active-passive dichotomy in English is to control thematization.

In PART I, below, various linguistic-theoretical formalizations of the active-passive relationship are explored. Included are the 'mainstream 1 transformational generative frameworks from Syntactic Structures to the present, three 'alternative' transformational frameworks (case grammar, relational grammar, and lexicalist theory), and stratificational grammar.

In PART II, support for the above hypothesis is gained from studies of various passive types: be vs. get passives, 'full' vs.

agentless passives, and 'true' vs. 'pseudo- 1 passives. Further support is gained from an examination of actives and passives in different environments, especially in embedded clauses. The psycholinguistic literature provides valuable insights and evidence relevant to the discourse function of the active-passive dichotomy. As part of the current study, a psycholinguistic experiment is performed which further supports the hypothesis A linguistic-theoretical framework must fulfill certain requirements in order to adequately describe the above discourse function of the active-passive dichotomy. It must, for example, permit a unified treatment of different passive types in English. Other requirements are discussed as well. Of those considered, the stratificational framework seems to be the only one capable of meeting all the requirements described.

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