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In:New Insights into Theoretical Syntax from Asian Languages: Studies in honor of C.-T. James Huang
Edited by Andrew Simpson
[Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today 290] 2026
► pp. 348–377

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Against the agreement approach to Philippine-type voice

 | Academia Sinica
Published online: 15 January 2026
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https://doi.org/10.1075/la.290.14ald
Abstract
This paper argues against an agreement approach to voice markers in Philippine-type languages in favor of a direct analysis in which these markers have syntactic functions. In particular, I show how these markers relate to argument and event structure. The “patient voice” clause type is a basic transitive clause with a definite and affected theme/patient argument. Consequently, the events expressed by this clause type are typically bounded. In contrast, the “actor voice” generally has an indefinite, less affected theme, thus expressing unbounded events. The “locative voice” is a locative applicative construction. This clause type can also be used to express an unbounded event if the applied object is a theme, which receives a partitive interpretation. Finally, the second applicative construction (“circumstantial voice”) selects a moved theme, instrument, beneficiary, or similar pseudo-argument which serves to initiate the event.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Chen (2017, to appear) agreement approach
    • 2.1Chen (2017, to appear) agreement approach
    • 2.2Problems for the agreement approach
  • 3.Direct approach
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (84)
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