Impersonal and pseudo-impersonal constructions

Rivka Halevy*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The domain of impersonal constructions is highly complex and heterogeneous in Hebrew as in other languages. It includes sentences that lack an overt constituent bearing the properties of a referential and identifiable subject or that are altogether lacking in canonical subject properties. The aim of the present chapter is to present an up-to-date classification of the major impersonal and generalized or impersonalized constructions in Modern, primarily spoken, Hebrew. To this end, the coding properties of such constructions are analyzed, based on the typological characterization of Modern Hebrew (MH) as a non-subject-oriented and non-configurational language characterized by synthetic inflectional morphology with marking of person in finite verbs, so not requiring an expletive or 'dummy' subject. Functional properties of impersonal and generalized constructions in MH are noted in relation to pragmatic underpinnings of their patterning and use.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUsage-Based Studies in Modern Hebrew Background, Morpho-lexicon, and Syntax
EditorsRuth A. Berman
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company
Pages539-582
Number of pages44
ISBN (Electronic)9789027262066
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Publication series

NameStudies in Language Companion Series
Volume210
ISSN (Print)0165-7763

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 John Benjamins Publishing Company.

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