Functional motivations for passive constructions in Scottish Gaelic
In this paper Ⅰ will examine various constructions labelled as passive in Scottish Gaelic to consider their discourse functions and the relation between these and their functional structures. Starting from cross-linguistic definitions of the functions of passive (or receptive) voice I will suggest that the different structures in Gaelic fulfil different discourse functions and that their internal structures reflect and facilitate these. I will also claim that the commonest construction in modern Gaelic fulfils a different function, not considered in the cross-linguistic definition: to signal either the Process or a minor configuration of Medium and Process as New information within the clause. Drawing on a small corpus of textual examples I will demonstrate the effect of this construction and consider its unequal distribution across register types.
scottish gaelic passive constructions
Tom BARLETT
Centre for Language and Communication Research Cardiff university
国际会议
The 36th International Systemic Functional Congress(第36届国际系统功能语言学大会暨第十一届全国功能语言学研讨会ISFC36)
北京
英文
388-395
2009-07-14（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）