Subject Properties in the North Russian Passive

In this paper I will consider the problem of identifying the subject in passive constructions in North Russian dialects, relying on E.L. Keenan’s discussion (Definition of Subject , this volume) of the subject as a complex of properties. I will suggest that the distribution of subject properties is unusual. The underlying object of the passive has fewer subject properties than might be expected for the derived subject of a passive. Conversely, and more strikingly, the underlying subject of the passive has more subject properties than might be expected for the agent of a passive. The North Russian constructions therefore illustrate a type of passive in which promotion of the underlying object and demotion of the underlying subject are not complete. In addition, I will suggest a motivated reason why the underlying subject of the North Russian passive should act like a subject ( 1 ).

Demotion · Distribution (mathematics) · Object (grammar) · Promotion (chess) · Subject (documents) · European Linguistics and Anthropology · Linguistics and language evolution · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation