Odp: [tied] The Middle Voice.

Yes, they look "ergative" rather than "middle" (the subject of the sentence is the logical _inactive_ object of the verb). Mediopassive meanings refer to doing something (or having something done) for oneself, or to oneself. The agent is affected by, or benefits from, the consequences of the action.

Piotr

----- Original Message -----

From: Andrei Markine

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 7:21 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] The Middle Voice.

At 4/19/01 11:27 PM +0000, <dvj1uk@...> wrote: >I have always understood that the true middle voice in English was >found in sentences such as- >This word translates badly into German. >The tune plays badly on a violin. etc I though these were signs of ergativity in English, not of middle voice. Am I wrong? Andrei