[B-Greek] Passive Imperative
Harold R. Holmyard III
hholmyard at ont.com
Sun Aug 14 18:06:28 EDT 2005
Dear Elizabeth,
> > I feel quite comfortable with the middle-passive classification
>> of verbs since Hebrew Niphal and Hithpael verbs can both be passive
>> or middle. Context gives guidance as to which it is. But what about
>> forms in Greek where there is a difference between middle and passive
>> forms? There I would not expect flexibility, since otherwise why have
>> a distinction in forms.
>
>This seems to imply that a distinction in form *requires* a
>distinction in function.
Hh: Since languages can grow like Topsy, a distinction of function is
not obligatory. But if there is a distinction between the middle and
passive voices formalized in a distinction of forms, one does expect
a difference of function.
Yours,
Harold Holmyard
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list