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In:Perspectives on Arabic Linguistics XXXV: Papers from the Annual Symposium on Arabic Linguistics, Washington, D.C., 2022
Edited by Ahmad Al-Qassas
[Studies in Arabic Linguistics 14] 2025
► pp. 80–107

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Chapter 4
Neutralization of voice in colloquial Arabic verbs

 | Charles University
Published online: 3 March 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sal.14.04pos
Abstract
In this paper I propose the concept of neutralization of voice, motivated by certain cases of intransitive usage of transitive verbs in some Arabic varieties and defined as the omission of coding of a de-transitivizing valency alternation. I confront the concept with a sample of Arabic verbs and argue that a class of constructions in a range of Arabic varieties can indeed be accounted for in terms of voice neutralization. I also suggest some factors licensing the phenomenon and discuss its possible implications for cross-varietal and typological comparison, as well as its validity in terms of the study of actual language use, including marginal and emergent constructions conditioned by context.
Article outline
  • Introduction
    • Transitivity alternations and their coding
    • Introducing the phenomenon
    • The notion of voice neutralization
  • 1.Pilot study on the Egyptian usage of ʾibil ‘accept’ and ʾaddim ‘submit’
  • 2.Heuristic search for voice-neutralizing verbs
  • 3.Description and analysis
    • 3.1The “standard” alternative
    • 3.2Morphology: The derivational status of the verb
    • 3.3Semantics: The type of alternation neutralized
      • a.The passive alternation
      • b.The reflexive alternation
      • c.The IO-passive/reflexive alternation
    • 3.4Pragmatics: The degree of conventionalization
  • Scale of stability/conventionalization of the neutralized pattern
    • 3.5Neutralization of voice observed in the data
  • 4.Discussion and open issues
    • 4.1Factors licensing voice neutralization
      • a.Morphological limitations
      • b.The absence of object
      • c.The contextual frame and agentivity of the undergoer
      • d.Unmarked reflexive or antipassive?
      • e.Stylistic and pragmatic aspects (communicative efficiency)
    • 4.2The relevance of voice neutralization as a notion
    • 4.3The inclusion of IO-passive alternation
    • 4.4Alternative approaches to the IO-passive alternation
    • 4.5Periphrasis by means of ʕamal ‘do’
    • 4.6Cross-varietal diversity and comparison
    • 4.7Typological and diachronic implications
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • References
References (22)
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