Universal #1644

Legacy number: 1644

 Number  1639
 Original  Evolution of semantic functions of subjective reflexive markers:
semantic reflexivity > ‘partitive object’ and/or autocausative > absolute and/or reciprocal.
(a) RMs with the primary semantic reflexive function are the starting point of evolution,
(b) RMs with the semantic reflexive and ‘partitive object’ and/or autocausative functions are in the advanced stage of evolution;
(c) RMs with a complete range of semantic subjective functions may be regarded as ‘mature’, and
(d) RMs lacking the semantic reflexive (and next to it ‘partitive object’) function(s) are in the final, decaying stage of development.
 Standardized  Evolution of semantic functions of subjective reflexive markers:
semantic reflexivity > ‘partitive object’ and/or autocausative > absolute and/or reciprocal.
(a) RMs with the primary semantic reflexive function are the starting point of evolution,
(b) RMs with the semantic reflexive and "partitive object" and/or autocausative functions are in the advanced stage of evolution;
(c) RMs with a complete range of semantic subjective functions may be regarded as "mature", and
(d) RMs lacking the semantic reflexive (and next to it "partitive object") function(s) are in the final, decaying stage of development.
 Keywords  reflexive
 Domain  syntax, semantics
 Type  target < source
 Status  diachronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  over 50 Indo-European and non-Indo-European languages
 Source  Geniusiene 1987: 347

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Discussion
Notes
1. Thus the degree of "maturity" of a reflexive marker is not measured by the actual time span of its existence but by the number of functions it has developed or retains (Geniusiene 1987: 348). 2. SEMANTIC REFLEXIVES are characterized by total Agent-Patient coreference; PARTITIVE OBJECT reflexive verbs are characterized by partial coreference (of the whole and (body-)part); in AUTOCAUSATIVE reflexive verbs, the only remaining referent retains the Semantic Subject role and at the same time acquires some features of the Semantic Object (namely, changes its own state or location) of the base nonreflexive verb; RECIPROCAL reflexive verbs are characterized by a total "cross-reference" of the roles. 3. As achronic constraints:IF a reflexive marker has absolute and/or reciprocal function(s), THEN it has ‘partitive object’ and/or autocausative function(s).IF a reflexive marker has ‘partitive object’ and/or autocausative function(s), THEN it has semantic reflexive function.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Thus the degree of "maturity" of a reflexive marker is not measured by the actual time span of its existence but by the number of functions it has developed or retains (Geniusiene 1987: 348).

2. SEMANTIC REFLEXIVES are characterized by total Agent-Patient coreference; PARTITIVE OBJECT reflexive verbs are characterized by partial coreference (of the whole and (body-)part); in AUTOCAUSATIVE reflexive verbs, the only remaining referent retains the Semantic Subject role and at the same time acquires some features of the Semantic Object (namely, changes its own state or location) of the base nonreflexive verb; RECIPROCAL reflexive verbs are characterized by a total "cross-reference" of the roles.

3. As achronic constraints: IF a reflexive marker has absolute and/or reciprocal function(s), THEN it has 'partitive object' and/or autocausative function(s). IF a reflexive marker has 'partitive object' and/or autocausative function(s), THEN it has semantic reflexive function.