Synopsis
This book provides an analysis of the passive phenomenon in general and of Norwegian passive constructions in particular. Related topics such as English passive constructions and Norwegian ergative constructions are also examined. The analysis is carried out within a Government and Binding (GB) framework. Chapter one contains a very brief introduction to GB syntax and a description of the passive phenomenon and its manifestation in Norwegian. The "orthodox analysis" of the passive as proposed in Chomsky's "Lectures on Government and Binding" is contrasted with the "new analysis" which claims that the "passive morpheme" is an argument of the verb. The book sets out to show that a version of this "new analysis" successfully explains the basic properties of Norwegian passives. Chapters two and three examine these properties, notably properties related to Theta-role assignment and Case assignment. Chapter four compares the Norwegian with the English passive and proposes a unified analysis of the two.
Chapter five discusses various cases of passivization failure in Norwegian, while chapter six focuses on the scope of movement in passive and ergative constructions in Norwegian and proposes a syntactic level beneath D-structure.
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