The English Middle and Ergative in Appositive Relative Clauses
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Abstract
This study delves into English middle and intransitive ergative constructions within appositive relative clauses. Despite surface similarities, their differences lie in the middle’s semantic and pragmatic properties. Their appearance in relative clauses raises questions about pragmatic functions at the sentential level. This study focuses on appositive relative clauses due to their syntactically detached yet semantically attached to the DP head. Data from the COCA Corpus shows both constructions in all argument positions. The study demonstrates that both constructions align with the main clause’s information structure, appearing either initially or finally. However, the productivity of the middle construction at the sentence outset contrasts with typical subject -relatives. Moreover, the high frequency of sentence-final definite heads differs from expected information structure patterns. Ultimately, the study concludes that appositivity and the middle’s arbitrary agent are key factors governing the occurrence of these relative clauses.
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