ABSTRACT
Throughout the preceding chapters various functions of the passive have been mentioned, which according to Givón (1981), can be grouped under one of the following functional domains: topic identification, impersonalization and detransitivization. The topi-calization function of the passive is manifested by the assignment of subject/topic or just topic function to a non-agent, the impersonalization function by the removal of the underlying agent and the detransitivization by agent demotion concomitantly with direct object promotion resulting in a decrease of the 10 semantic high transitivity features proposed by Hopper and Thompson (cf. p.15-18).
