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→Uses of the middle voice
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The meaning of a verb in the middle voice often depends on the context of the sentence and the lexical properties of the word itself. In its most basic sense, it may be used simply as a valancy decreasing operation. As transitive verbs require an object in the active voice (because transitive verbs must agree with the object), the middle voice may be used merely to omit an object, to highlight the subject or some other part of the sentence, or to simply make a blanket statement. | The meaning of a verb in the middle voice often depends on the context of the sentence and the lexical properties of the word itself. In its most basic sense, it may be used simply as a valancy decreasing operation. As transitive verbs require an object in the active voice (because transitive verbs must agree with the object), the middle voice may be used merely to omit an object, to highlight the subject or some other part of the sentence, or to simply make a blanket statement. | ||
* | * ''aed<u>aȥ</u>'' 'they love <u>me</u>' (''active'') → ''aed<u>or</u>'' '<u>I</u> love' (''middle'') | ||
* | * ''leg<u>is</u>'' 'they<sub>i</sub> choose <u>them<sub>j</sub></u>' (''active'') → ''leg<u>ërur</u>'' '<u>they<sub>j</sub></u> choose' (''middle'') | ||
[[w:Animacy|Animacy]] can play a major role in the meaning of a verb in the middle voice. Verbs with more animate subjects, such as people, animals, gods, etc., may be interpreted as more towards an active meaning, whilst less animate subjects, like inanimate objects or possessions, may be interpreted as more passive in meaning. | [[w:Animacy|Animacy]] can play a major role in the meaning of a verb in the middle voice. Verbs with more animate subjects, such as people, animals, gods, etc., may be interpreted as more towards an active meaning, whilst less animate subjects, like inanimate objects or possessions, may be interpreted as more passive in meaning. | ||
{{interlinear| number=1.) | style2 = color:DarkMagenta; | top=''augērur seus ars'' | |||
| aug-ērur se-us ar[d]-s | |||
|see-MID.3SG.T this-T.NOM.SG wumbo-NOM.SG | |||
|'That wumbo sees' | |||
|c1 = (''more animate'')}} | |||
{{interlinear| number=2.) | style2 = color:DarkMagenta; | top=''augērra sea salva'' | |||
| aug-ērra se-a salv-a | |||
|see-MID.3SG.C this-C.NOM.SG book-NOM.SG | |||
|'That book is seen' | |||
|c1 = (''less animate'')}} | |||
Sometimes, it may have a '''reflexive''' meaning, or the sense of doing something for ones own benefit. | Sometimes, it may have a '''reflexive''' meaning, or the sense of doing something for ones own benefit. | ||
Another important use of the middle voice is the '''experiential middle voice'''. When used with sensory verbs the middle voice may be used to differentiate experiential, nonvolitional sensation (''see, hear, smell, feel, know, etc.''), as opposed to active, volitional sensation (''look, listen, sniff, touch, understand, etc.'') Often times, the object of the sensory verb will be expressed using an oblique case, usually the ablative. | |||
{{interlinear| number=3.a.) | style2 = color:DarkMagenta; | top=''īdēstë ponun gärīnī gellē'' | |||
| īd-ēs<nowiki>=</nowiki>të pon-un gärīn-ī gellē | |||
|hear/listen-ACT.3SG.T<nowiki>=</nowiki>1SG.NOM voice-ACC.SG friend-GEN.SG happily | |||
|'I like to listen to (my) friend's voice' | |||
|c1 = (''active voice'')}} | |||
{{interlinear| number=3.b.) | style2 = color:DarkMagenta; | top=''īdeor ponā gärīnī gellē'' | |||
| īd-eor pon-ā gärīn-ī gellē | |||
|hear/listen-MID.1SG voice-ABL.SG friend-GEN.SG happily | |||
|'I like to hear (my) friend's voice' | |||
|c1 = (''middle voice'')}} | |||
====Passive==== | ====Passive==== | ||