Middle Voice in Greek

I have had a lot of study in Greek but I do not get the middle voice. Any active transitive verb with the appropriate lexical semantics may take middle-passive morphology in a middle function, but cannot co-occur with an a-gentive phrase, as far as I understand. In the New Testament, Liana Tronci writes about voice in the aorist (the most complex part of the system when it comes to voice): "The productivity of middle and passive aorists is not comparable." The aorist middle became a non-oppositive marker, whereas the aorist passive expanded as an oppositive marker to the active voice by also replacing the intransitive middles, particularly the unaccusative and reflexive." Liana Tronci, “Aorist Voice Patterns in the Diachrony of Greek: The New Testament as a Sample of Koine,” Journal of Greek Linguistics 18 (2018): 247. In Logos, how can this be documented? How can I understand this?

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MJ. Smith

How can I understand this?

Learn Sanskrit. [8-|] and a bit of Gothic. [;)] - not years worth but weeks worth. Seriously, that is what a very basic introduction to Proto-IndoEuropean historical linguistics would cover. It would teach you the framework from which to understand the changes in language over time including the loss of the dual number and the middle voice in most IndoEuropean langauges.

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1278233#Comment_1278233

OK So how would you suggest me move forward? Does Logos have a resource open to this topic?

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1278241#Comment_1278241

Does Logos have a resource open to this topic?

No, Logos has resources that discuss the topic in Greek but they assume you have enough background in linguistics to understand them. Logos does not have the resources to provide that background. I pointed you towards some bibliographies on the other thread. What specifically don't you understand about the middle voice? Ask Bard about it:Please explain the use of middle voice in koine Greek" and got

[quote]The middle voice in Koine Greek is a grammatical feature that conveys a range of meanings, including:

Self-directed action: The middle voice indicates that the subject of the verb is both the agent and the recipient of the action. This is often expressed using reflexive pronouns in English, such as "myself," "yourself," "himself," etc. However, the middle voice goes beyond mere reflexivity, as it can also encompass actions that have a direct or personal bearing on the subject.
Middle-only verbs: Some verbs in Koine Greek exist only in the middle voice, known as middle-only or deponent verbs. These verbs inherently express actions that are naturally connected to the subject, making the active voice less appropriate. For instance, the verb "bouleuomai" (βουλεύομαι) meaning "to plan" or "to deliberate" is a middle-only verb, as planning or deliberating typically involves personal consideration.
Causative action: The middle voice can also convey a causative meaning, indicating that the subject initiates or causes an action to happen. This usage is particularly common with verbs of motion, such as "poreuomai" (πορεύομαι), meaning "to go" or "to travel," where the middle voice implies that the subject sets out on a journey or undertakes a trip.
Intransitive action: In some cases, the middle voice is used with intransitive verbs, where the subject performs the action but there is no direct object. For example, "bouleuomai" (βουλεύομαι) can also mean "to think" or "to consider," emphasizing the subject's mental engagement in the process.
Emotional involvement: The middle voice can convey emotional involvement or personal interest in the action. For instance, "agapō" (ἀγαπῶ), meaning "to love," can be used in the middle voice to express intense love or affection.
Habitual action: The middle voice can sometimes indicate habitual or customary action, suggesting that the subject regularly performs the action. This usage is often seen with verbs of daily routines or activities.
Future indicative: In the future indicative mood, the middle voice forms can express both active and passive meanings, depending on the context. The active interpretation implies that the subject will perform the action, while the passive interpretation suggests that the subject will be acted upon.
Imperative mood: In the imperative mood, the middle voice forms generally convey a sense of urgency or self-motivation, encouraging the subject to take action. This usage is common in commands, requests, or advice.

The middle voice in Koine Greek adds a layer of nuance and complexity to the language, allowing for a more vivid and precise expression of actions and their relation to the subject. Understanding the various shades of meaning associated with the middle voice is crucial for accurately interpreting Koine Greek texts.

Or should I ask: Can you explain this statement in simpler terms " "The productivity of middle and passive aorists is not comparable." The aorist middle became a non-oppositive marker, whereas the aorist passive expanded as an oppositive marker to the active voice by also replacing the intransitive middles, particularly the unaccusative and reflexive."?

[quote]

Sure, here is a simplified explanation of the statement:

"The productivity of middle and passive aorists is not comparable."

This means that the middle and passive aorists (past tense forms) were not used equally often in Koine Greek. The passive aorist was used more frequently and in a wider range of situations than the middle aorist.

"The aorist middle became a non-oppositive marker."

This means that the middle aorist lost its original meaning of indicating an action that directly affects the subject. Instead, it became a more general marker of past tense, similar to the passive aorist.

"The aorist passive expanded as an oppositive marker to the active voice by also replacing the intransitive middles, particularly the unaccusative and reflexive."

This means that the passive aorist became more widely used, and it started to be used in place of the middle aorist in some cases. This was especially true for intransitive middle verbs, which are verbs that don't have a direct object. For example, the verb "bouleuomai" (βουλεύομαι) meaning "to plan" or "to deliberate" was originally an intransitive middle verb, but it started to be used in the passive aorist form "ebouleuthe" (εβουλεύθη) in some cases.

In other words, the passive aorist became more versatile and took on some of the functions of the middle aorist. This is why the statement says that the productivity of middle and passive aorists is not comparable. The passive aorist was simply more productive than the middle aorist.

It seems as if with a series of questions, BARD is able to walk you through the answers to your question beginning with whatever level of background you indicate you have.