Aeranir: Difference between revisions

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.

[[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.

| see-MID.3SG.T this-T.NOM.SG wumbo-NOM.SG

|'That wumbo sees'

|c1 = (''more animate'')}}

|see-MID.3SG.C this-C.NOM.SG book-NOM.SG

|'That book is seen'

|c1 = (''middle voice'')}}

|sacrifice-ACT.3SG.T Oscus-NOM.SG fish-ACC.SG

|'Oscus sacrificed a fish'

|c1 = (''active voice'')}}

|sacrifice-MID.3SG.T Oscus-NOM.SG fish-INSTR.SG

|'Oscus sacrificed a fish (for their 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.

|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'')}}

|hear/listen-MID.1SG voice-ABL.SG friend-GEN.SG happily

|'I like to hear (my) friend's voice'

The middle voice may also be used with a variety of verbal compliments—usually adverbs—which describe the quality of the subject, or the result of the action.  Often times such constructions may be expressed in English as ''adjective to verb'', e.g. 'easy to love'.

| read-MID.3SG.C book-NOM.SG matters-NOM.SG gather-PFV.PTCP-C.NOM.SG of_Avrid-C.NOM.SG well

|'The book "Collected Matters of Avrid" is a good read' (lit. '~reads well')}}

| drink-PFV.MID.3SG.E tea-NOM.SG 1PL.PRO-DAT place-LOC.SG go-PFV.PTCP-T.LOC.SG 2SG<nowiki>=</nowiki>make-PFV.PTCP-E.NOM.SG pour-PFV.PTCP-E.NOM.SG well

|'The tea you made us last time was delicious' (lit. '~drank well')}}