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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 1991KLAIMAN, Miriam H. 1991. Grammatical Voice. Cambridge University Press.). 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

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