Universal #1645

Legacy number: 1645

 Number  1640
 Original  The principal functions within the objective recessive diathesis develop in the following succession:
decausative > passive > impersonal.

Languages with the reflexive impersonal invariably display the other two objective functions of reflexive markers, and languages with the reflexive (personal) passive display decausative reflexive verbs, but not necessarily the reflexive impersonal.
 Standardized  The principal functions within the objective recessive diathesis develop in the following succession:
decausative > passive > impersonal.

Languages with the reflexive impersonal invariably display the other two objective functions of reflexive markers, and languages with the reflexive (personal) passive display decausative reflexive verbs, but not necessarily the reflexive impersonal. The principal functions within the objective recessive diathesis develop in the following succession:
decausative > passive > impersonal.

Languages with the reflexive impersonal invariably display the other two objective functions of reflexive markers, and languages with the reflexive (personal) passive display decausative reflexive verbs, but not necessarily the reflexive impersonal.
 Keywords  reflexive, diathesis, passive, impersonal
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  target < source
 Status  diachronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  over 50 Indo-European and non-Indo-European languages
 Source  Geniusiene 1987: 350

← Back to Universals Archive

Discussion
Notes
As achronic constraints:IF a reflexive marker has impersonal objective function, THEN it has (personal) passive function. IF a reflexive marker has (personal) passive function, THEN it has decausative function.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
As achronic constraints: IF a reflexive marker has impersonal objective function, THEN it has (personal) passive function. IF a reflexive marker has (personal) passive function, THEN it has decausative function.