[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




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