re: Eragative Or Middle. page 4
Hi
Which sentence has an ergative verb and which is in the middle voice?
Molly broke the china.
The china broke.
China breaks easily.
Which sentence has an ergative verb and which is in the middle voice?
Molly broke the china.
The china broke.
China breaks easily.
Comments (Page 4)
What other examples of "middle verbs" does "Me-You Sohn" give? (He seems not to google.)
MrP
sabre-tooth tigers (unbounded)
that sabre-tooth tiger (bounded)
the ship sank easily (bounded)
ships sink easily (unbounded)
1) The suitcase easily opens up. (No Agent)
2) The suitcase opens up easily. (Implied Agent)
Do you agree?
In the meantime, cf:
1. The bacon fries in the frying pan.
2. The bacon cuts easily.
3. The bacon tastes nice.
Three species, or three subspecies?
(Though two at least are ambiguous.)
MrP
*2. The bacon cuts easily all by itself (Not ergative. So, we can see that as a good example of a middle construction - that is, if it is referring to non-volitional and a general case and not single event of cutting bacon)
3. The bacon tastes nice all by itself. (Ergative)
How would you label each of those three? Ergative? Middle? Transitive? ???
paco
http://www.univ-lille3.fr/silex/equipe/lemmens/docspdf/middable.PDF