Crosslinguistic generalizations about reflexive constructions

Nicoletta Puddu;Katarzyna Janic

2023-01-01

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Abstract

Reflexive constructions vary from language to language in the way they encode coreference between two clause participants. While some languages employ a form called reflexivizer, others use a non-reflexive form that may perform a coreference function under some conditions. There is also much variation in the types of reflexivizers, spanning from reflexive nominals, voice markers to argument markers, occurring in variable or invariant forms. Additionally, reflexivizers may display coexpression patterns related to self-intensification, auto-benefaction, or valency changing operations. The aim of this chapter is to investigate some of the main features of reflexive constructions among the world’s languages through a crosslinguistic comparison of the patterns described by the contributors of this book.