Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.31724/rihjj.51.2.8
Comparative Analysis of the (Current) Use of Passive Constructions in Croatian and German
Nikolina Palašić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0054-1830
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci
Sažetak
Although both the Croatian and German languages are primarily oriented towards the performer of the action (which is according to Comrie (1981: 70) tendency in languages in general, the so-called A-orientation), for different pragmatic reasons, both languages employ detopicalization of the agent and topicalization of the process, the result of the process, or the patient (as seen, for example, in the sentence from the Croatian corpus: It has become a habit to declare anyone who talks to the HDZ a traitor). In this sense, the use of passive constructions plays an important communicative role. This paper, based on examples of sentences from contemporary Croatian and German public discourse, examines the similarities and differences in the use of passive constructions in these two languages, discusses the relationship between passives and transitivity, explores the communicative motivations for the use of passives, and highlights certain (morphological and usage-related) limitations that exist in both languages.
Ključne riječi
passive; transitivity; topicalization; detopicalization; Croatian language; German language
Hrčak ID:
341872
URI
Datum izdavanja:
31.12.2025.
Posjeta: 730 *