Publications

Publication details [#5555]

Kirsner, Robert S. 1976. On the subjectless 'pseudo-passive' in standard Dutch and the semantics of background agents. In Li, Charles N., ed. Subject and topic. Academic Press. pp. 385–415.

Publication type

Article in book

Publication language

English

Keywords

agent | backgrounding | focus | pseudo-passive construction

Annotation

K. argues that, like the 'true' Dutch passive, the 'pseudo-passive' (e.g. 'Er wordt gefloten') explicitly asserts that the agent is non-focussed or backgrounded. Further, K. investigates the semantic, pragmatic and stylistic consequences of this backgrounding.