Interpretation and voice in Polish SIĘ and –NO/–TO constructions

This paper discusses various properties of two Polish impersonal constructions with a particular focus on the function of the –NO/–TO suffix and the SIĘ particle. Following Fassi-Fehri (2009), it is assumed that the –NO/–TO suffix is best analysed as a head of VoiceP located between TP and vP. A similar analysis is not available for the SIĘ particle. It is also argued that Fassi Fehri’s (2009) generalization, according to which generic pros cannot be associated with the third person active inflection, only with the third person passive one, although true for Arabic, cannot be extended to account for the derivation and interpretation of impersonal constructions in Polish. Keywords: Polish; impersonal constructions; voice; genericity

Published online: 17 December 2013
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.146.11krz