Acknowledgements


Passive voice in Transformational-Generative grammar



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2.4. Passive voice in Transformational-Generative grammar

2.4.1 Introduction


In this thesis, the part of interest is passive noun phrase and its relations with the passive constructions. The analysis in the study is based on the interrelation between the Deep structures and Surface structures and on sub – theory of Theme role (O – criterion) and Case filter.

2.4.2 Noun phrase passivization


There are certain relations among passive constructions and noun phrases. According to Borsley, R. (1999:149) noun phrases can contain deverbal nouns that derived from verbs. Consider the following pair of active-passive sentences:

1.a The active sentence: The Vikings destroyed the monastery.



1.bThe active sentence: The king betrayed the country.

2.aThe passive sentence : The monastery was destroyed by the Vikings.

2.b The passive sentence: The country was betrayed by the king.

These pairs of sentences are semantically identical to the following noun phrases:



3.a The monastery ‘s destruction by the Vikings.

3.b The country ‘s betrayal by the king.

These pairs of noun phrases can be transformed into other noun phrases:



4.a The destruction of the monastery by the Vikings.

4.b The betrayal of the country by the king.

5.a The Vikings’ destruction of the monastery.

5.b The king ‘s betrayal of the country.

The relation among the three noun phrases is explained on the basis of P&P principle of Case filter. In P&P, it has been proposed that the nouns like destruction and betrayal have an NP complement in the D structures just like the related verbs. This means that (5a) might have the following D-structure.



To derive the S- Structure of (5.a) , we have to insert of. Nouns are assumed not to license Case. Therefore, of insertion is a way of avoiding violation of the Case-filter. Without it, no Case would be licensed on the NP the monastery and the Case filter would be violated.

The (3.a) have the following D-structure.

This is like (5.a) except that the specifier is an empty NP and we have the PP by the Vikings. To derive the S-structure of (3.a) the noun phrase the monastery is moved into the empty NP position. There is no need for of insertion here because an NP trace does not need Case.

Finally, the (4.a) has the following D- structure:

This is like (4.a) except that there is a determiner and not an empty NP as specifier. In this structure, we cannot move the monastery because there is no empty NP position to move it into. Hence, of insertion is necessary to avoid a violation of Case –filter.

This analysis helps to prove the passive phrases are closely related to the original passive sentences. From an original passive sentence, several passive noun phrases can be transformed with the help of possessive markers ‘s and/ or of.


Chapter Three: Passive Constructions in Vietnamese




3.1 Verbs in Vietnamese


The classification of verbs in Vietnamese is not agreed among linguists. Under the influence of such languages as English, French, linguists have classified Vietnamese verbs into intransitive and transitive. However, there are some verbs in the neutral positions. such verbs as “häc” “khãc” in the following pairs of sentences cannot be classified into intransitive or transitive verbs:

Nã häc (intransitive)-Nã häc to¸n (transitive)

C« ta khãc intransitive) --C« ta khãc b¹n (transitive)

Linguists have not agreed on the verb classification. Based on the semantic and grammatical factors, Biªn (1998:98) classifies Vietnamese verbs into two major groups: Independent verbs and dependent verbs.

Lộc (2000) suggests two ways of verb classification. As far as the semantic and grammatical factors are concerned, Vietnamese verbs are divided into two groups: Action verbs and non-action verbs. If government feature are in the concern, Vietnamese verbs can be classified into three groups: Transitive verbs, intransitive verbs and middle verbs.

Th¶n, (1977:129), based on the verb influence on the object, classifies Vietnamese verbs into three groups namely transitive verbs (®éng tõ ngo¹i h­íng), middle verbs (®éng tõ trung tÝnh) and intransitive verbs (®éng tõ néi h­íng). The difference in Th¶n’s concept is the meaning of these labels compared to those in flectional languages. Having the same term, the objects in his concepts include not only ones changed by the verb but also the ones targeted by the verbs (danh tõ biÓu thÞ ®èi t­îng mµ ho¹t ®éng chØ chuyÓn tíi chø kh«ng lµm cho biÕn ®æi). Some examples are con (baby) in trông con (keep an eye on the baby), tiÒn (money) in ®­îc tiÒn(get money), cã tiÒn(have money) and other examples.

In relation to Passive constructions, the following concepts are to be analyzed: Independent – dependent verbs, Transitive – intransitive verbs.

3.1.1 Dependent and Independent verbs


According to Biªn(1998, 76), Vietnamese verbs can be classified into independent verb and dependent verbs. The independent verbs are the verbs having the meaning themselves. Moreover, these verbs can stand independently without the support of other verbs. The independent verbs are sub - classified into action verbs (động từ hành vi), receptive verbs (động từ trao nhận), causative verbs (động từ g©y khiến), feeling/emotional verbs (động từ trạng th¸i), movemental verbs (động từ di chuyển), existential verbs (động từ tồn tại) and postural verbs (động từ tư thế).

The dependent verbs, on the other hand, do not have full lexical meaning and these verbs often accompanied with independent verbs. The dependent verbs can include modal verbs (động từ t×nh th¸i) and relative verbs (động từ chỉ quan hệ). Modal verbs include verbs showing necessity like “nªn, cần, cã thể” and” kh«ng thể” (should, need, can, cannot). Verbs showing expect, hopes like “định, toan, mong” (hope, intend) and verbs showing suffering “bị, phải, được” (must, suffer). Relative verbs consist of comparative verbs “giống, kh¸c, tựa” (similar, different), transformational verbs “hãa ra, trở thành” (turn out to be, become).


3.1.2 Transitive – Intransitive verbs


An other way of verb classification is based on the object – governing capability. This type of classification is influenced from western languages, which include intransitive and transitive verbs.

Intransitive verbs do not govern objects. Meanwhile a transitive verb does govern at least one object. Biªn’s definitions somehow co-inside with Lộc,(2000). Biªn suggests transitive verbs do affect objects such as eat (ăn), write (viết), read (đọc), improve (cải tiến). These types of verbs always need objects. Some examples are: ăn b¸nh (eat cake),đọc thư (read letter).

Intransitive verbs do not influence any other objects. Some examples are ngủ (sleep), tắm (have a bath), cười (smile), chạy (run)…

In short, verb classification in Vietnamese is based on 2 categories: meaning and grammar. These different classifications somehow overlap with the others. These classifications include independent – dependent verbs and transitive – non-transitive verbs.




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