Difference between revisions of "Voice in Morphology (definition)"
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| + | '''Voice''', in its morphosyntactic sense, describes alternations in the alignment of [[Thematic Relations (definition)|thematic relations]] and [[Grammatical Relations (definition)|grammatical relations]] within a [[Clause (definition)|clause]]. Traditionally, this includes [[Active Voice (definition)|active voice]] and [[Passive Voice (definition)|passive voice]], while Scottish Gaelic and other languages also have an [[Impersonal Voice (definition)|impersonal voice]]. However, many linguists consider these voices to be part of a much broader category of [[Valence Changing Operations (definition)|valence changing operations]]. | ||
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| + | :''1a) Jones painted a picture.'' | ||
| + | :''1b) A picture was painted (by Jones).'' | ||
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| + | Consider some examples from English. (1a) is a sentence in the active voice. Active voice sentences align [[Noun Phrase (definition)|noun phrases]] which take the [[Agent (definition)|agent]] (or more agent-like) thematic relation with the [[Subject (definition)|subject]] grammatical relation. The passive version in (1b) changes this alignment; in the passive voice, noun phrases which are more [[Patient (definition)|patient]]-like are treated as subjects. Note also that the passive voice reduces the valence of the verb (i.e., the number of noun phrases it requires). | ||
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| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | *[[Valence Changing Operations (definition)]] | ||
| + | *[[Thematic Relations (definition)]] | ||
| + | *[[Grammatical Relations (definition)]] | ||
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| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | *wikipedia article on Voice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_voice | ||
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| + | [[Category: Technical Definitions]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Syntax]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Semantics]] | ||
Revision as of 16:13, 23 June 2009
Voice, in its morphosyntactic sense, describes alternations in the alignment of thematic relations and grammatical relations within a clause. Traditionally, this includes active voice and passive voice, while Scottish Gaelic and other languages also have an impersonal voice. However, many linguists consider these voices to be part of a much broader category of valence changing operations.
- 1a) Jones painted a picture.
- 1b) A picture was painted (by Jones).
Consider some examples from English. (1a) is a sentence in the active voice. Active voice sentences align noun phrases which take the agent (or more agent-like) thematic relation with the subject grammatical relation. The passive version in (1b) changes this alignment; in the passive voice, noun phrases which are more patient-like are treated as subjects. Note also that the passive voice reduces the valence of the verb (i.e., the number of noun phrases it requires).
See Also
- Valence Changing Operations (definition)
- Thematic Relations (definition)
- Grammatical Relations (definition)
External Links
- wikipedia article on Voice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_voice
