A comprehensive perspective on reflexive constructions

Workshop description Most definitions share the idea that the term reflexive refers to events wherein the patient object co-refers with the agent subject as in Mary saw herself in the mirror. In contrast, the coding of reflexive interpretation demonstrates remarkable variation across languages (König & Siemund 2000). It extends from nominals (Acholi body), through dedicated reflexive pronouns that in some languages grammaticalized into verbal affixes and derive reflexive verbs (Russian sebja > -sja) to verbal strategies, including a change in a verbal paradigm. The reflexive interpretation can also be available with possessive pronouns or as in Oceanic with personal pronouns.