--- title: "‘Impersonal’ and ‘reflexive’ constructions — paper by Ogura (2022)" description: "Ogura asks why Old and Middle English relied so heavily on two kinds of constructions. 15 references." authors: ["Michiko Ogura"] year: 2022 venue: "SELIM 27" source: "https://reunido.uniovi.es/index.php/SELIM/article/view/18590" doi: "10.17811/selim.27.2022.49-80" licence: "CC BY-NC-ND (journal licence per DOAJ; SELIM)" licence_url: "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/" summary_licence: "Elamur Cosmic License" canonical: "https://research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/ogura-2022-impersonal-reflexive-constructions-verb-features/" --- [Elamur Research](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/ogura-2022-impersonal-reflexive-constructions-verb-features/) [home](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [papers](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/) / [2022](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/2022/page/7/) / ‘Impersonal’ and ‘reflexive’ constructions: Verb features peculiar to Old and Middle English # ‘Impersonal’ and ‘reflexive’ constructions: Verb features peculiar to Old and Middle English **Authors:** Michiko Ogura · **Year:** 2022 · **Venue:** [SELIM 27](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/venues/selim-journal-of-the-spanish-society-for-medieval-english-language-and/) ([SELIM Journal of the Spanish Society for Medieval English Language and Literature 2022](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/venues/selim-journal-of-the-spanish-society-for-medieval-english-language-and/2022/)) · **Publisher:** [University of Oviedo](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/publishers/university-of-oviedo/) · **Licence:** [CC BY-NC-ND (journal licence per DOAJ; SELIM)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) **Links:** [Publisher's page](https://doi.org/10.17811/selim.27.2022.49-80) · [PDF](https://reunido.uniovi.es/index.php/SELIM/article/download/18590/15189) · [DOI 10.17811/selim.27.2022.49-80](https://doi.org/10.17811/selim.27.2022.49-80) · [OpenAlex](https://openalex.org/W4288080681) **Citations:** 0 citations (OpenAlex, 2026-10-14) ## Summary Ogura asks why Old and Middle English relied so heavily on two kinds of constructions. The first is the 'impersonal' type, with a dative or accusative experiencer and an optional *(h)it*. The second is the 'reflexive' type, with a coreferential object pronoun and optional *self*. She argues that both, along with 'be + past participle', took over functions that the language had lost before it was written down, chiefly the middle voice. Counts drawn from her earlier work show no steady decline in either construction across Old and Middle English texts. She then traces individual verbs through OED3, DOE, DOEC and MED. Native verbs such as *sceamian*, *þyncan*, *forþencan*, *ofþyncan* and *becuman* stay in use. Loans such as *plesen*, *remembren*, *repenten*, *anoien* and *paien* enter and take on the same three patterns. Her conclusion rests on three mechanisms: - synonyms influence one another's syntax; - forms that merge in sound or shape also shift syntactically; - loan verbs join existing rivalries among native synonyms. The study matters for understanding how English handles experiencer verbs. ## Key points - The definitions rest on alternation. An 'impersonal' (*me licaþ*, *him þinceþ*) can turn into a personal construction, while a true impersonal like *it rains* never does. 'Reflexive' (*he him ondred*) is separated from true reflexives such as *behave yourself*. - Sample counts (impersonal / reflexive): - West Saxon Gospels 183/187 and Wycliffite EV 185/187; - ÆCHom 276/637; - OE Poetry 442/665; - GD(C) 583/483; - Laʒamon (C) 247/345. - Examples are taken as closely as possible from OED3, DOE, DOEC and MED, checked against BT. Parallel versions are compared, including Lindisfarne, Rushworth, WSCp and the AV, and the C vs O manuscripts of Laʒamon. - Approximate borrowing dates given for loans: - *paien*, as early as a1200; - *anoien*, c. 1250; - *repenten*, c. 1300; - *remembren*, c. 1350, displacing *geþencan*, *beþencan* and *munan*. - Two survival paths stand out. *Semen* shared the impersonal role of *þyncan*, which competed with personal *þencan*, and lives on as *seem*. *Plesen* partly took over the impersonal use of *lician*. ## Interesting ideas - An "impersonal" is defined by whether it can alternate with a personal version, so the test is behavioural rather than formal. - The paper treats the impersonal, the reflexive and 'be + past participle' as near-equivalent ways to express one experiencer state; "him wearies" and "he is wearied" both amount to "he is weary". - Synonyms and new loan verbs tend to pick up each other's argument patterns. - Comparing parallel versions of the same passage (different translations or manuscripts) shows which constructions can stand in for one another. - Old-style reflexives use a plain object pronoun that refers back to the subject, as in "he bethought him" or "it repents me". ## For Mova How these ideas could serve Mova, our small open language model — its files, stages and tests: - **I1** (frames): when filling roles, check whether a construction has a personal alternant, so that the *it* in "it pleases me" is never made an Agent and the oblique pronoun becomes the Experiencer. - **I2** (world): collapse "it annoys me", "I am annoyed" and "annoy oneself" into a single emotional-state record for the experiencer, so later reasoning sees one fact. - **I3** (world): if a verb class lacks frame data for one member, offer frames borrowed from its VerbNet/WordNet synonyms, marked as hypotheses until the text confirms them. - **I4** (learn): treat paraphrase or translation pairs as extra witnesses, and turn the points where their parses disagree into candidate alternation rules. - **I5** (answer): archaic phrasing in fables and tales should trigger reading the pronoun as coreferent with the subject (or as the experiencer), so questions about who regretted or feared get answered correctly. *Our summary of the paper, in our own words — not its text. The work belongs to its authors; read it at the links above.* ## Institutions Also on the byline: [Chiba University](https://ror.org/01hjzeq58). 📚 Shelves (3): [🎭 Arts and Humanities](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/arts-and-humanities/) · 9,296 works · [🗣️ Language and Linguistics](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/arts-and-humanities/language-and-linguistics/) · 9,206 works · [🎭 Classics](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/arts-and-humanities/classics/) · 67 works 🧭 Topics (2): [English](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/topics/english/) · 1,373 works · [⏳ Historical linguistics & language change](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/topics/language-change/) · 159 works ## Cite Cite as: Michiko Ogura. 2022. ‘Impersonal’ and ‘reflexive’ constructions: Verb features peculiar to Old and Middle English. SELIM 27. The paper itself, not this page. BibTeX from the library's record of the work. ```bibtex @inproceedings{ogura2022impersonal, title = {{‘Impersonal’ and ‘reflexive’ constructions: Verb features peculiar to Old and Middle English}}, author = {Michiko Ogura}, booktitle = {SELIM 27}, year = {2022}, doi = {10.17811/selim.27.2022.49-80}, url = {https://doi.org/10.17811/selim.27.2022.49-80} } ``` - [← previous Verbal Extension and Valence in Gumer Variety of Gurage](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/gewta-2022-verbal-extension-valence-gumer-variety/) - [↑ back to papers of 2022](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/2022/page/7/) ## References 15 references, 0 of them with a card of ours. ↗ leads to the work, «find» searches for one we have no id for yet. 1. Bosworth, J. & T. N. Toller 1898 [rpt. 1929, 1954, 1972]: An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary . London, Oxford University Press. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Bosworth%2C+J%2E+%26+T%2E+N%2E+Toller+1898+%5Brpt%2E+1929%2C+1954%2C+1972%5D%3A+An+Anglo%2DSaxon+Dictionary+%2E+London%2C+Oxford+University+Press%2E) 2. [ DOE =] Cameron, A., A. Crandell Amos, A. diPaolo Healey et al . eds. 2018: Dictionary of Old English: A to I online. Toronto: Dictionary of Old English Project, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%5B+DOE+%3D%5D+Cameron%2C+A%2E%2C+A%2E+Crandell+Amos%2C+A%2E+diPaolo+Healey+et+al+%2E+eds%2E+2018%3A+Dictionary+of+Old+English%3A+A+to+I+online%2E+Toronto%3A+Dictionary+of+Old+English+Project%2C+Centre+for+Medieval+Studies%2C+Universi) 3. For the discussion of ‘ be + past participle’ constructions with ‘impersonal’ verbs, see Ogura (1986). [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=For+the+discussion+of+%E2%80%98+be+%2B+past+participle%E2%80%99+constructions+with+%E2%80%98impersonal%E2%80%99+verbs%2C+see+Ogura+%281986%29%2E) 4. Michiko Ogura [ DOEC =] diPaolo Healey, A. et al . eds. 2009–: Dictionary of Old English Web Corpus . Toronto, University of Toronto Press. [http://www.doe.utoronto.ca](http://www.doe.utoronto.ca). [↗](http://www.doe.utoronto.ca) 5. Godden, M. & S. Irvine. eds. 2009: The Old English Boethius . 2 vols. Oxford, Oxford University Press. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Godden%2C+M%2E+%26+S%2E+Irvine%2E+eds%2E+2009%3A+The+Old+English+Boethius+%2E+2+vols%2E+Oxford%2C+Oxford+University+Press%2E) 6. The Holy Bible, 1611 Edition, King James Version . 1993: Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The+Holy+Bible%2C+1611+Edition%2C+King+James+Version+%2E+1993%3A+Nashville%2C+Thomas+Nelson+Publishers%2E) 7. [ MED =] Kurath, H, S. M. Kuhn, J. Reidy & R. E. Lewis eds. 1952-2001: Middle English Dictionary . Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press. [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/med](http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/med) [↗](http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/med) 8. [ OED3 =] Proffitt, M. ed: 2000–: The Oxford English Dictionary Online . Oxford, Oxford University Press. [http://www.oed.com](http://www.oed.com) [↗](http://www.oed.com) 9. Ogura, M. 1986: Old English ‘Impersonal Periphrasis’, or the Construction ‘Copula + Past Participle’ of ‘Impersonal’ Verbs. Poetica , 23: 16-52. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Ogura%2C+M%2E+1986%3A+Old+English+%E2%80%98Impersonal+Periphrasis%E2%80%99%2C+or+the+Construction+%E2%80%98Copula+%2B+Past+Participle%E2%80%99+of+%E2%80%98Impersonal%E2%80%99+Verbs%2E+Poetica+%2C+23%3A+16%2D52%2E) 10. Ogura, M. 1991: Displese yow and Displeses yow : OE and ME Verbs Used Both ‘Impersonally’ and Reflexively. Poetica , 34: 75–87. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Ogura%2C+M%2E+1991%3A+Displese+yow+and+Displeses+yow+%3A+OE+and+ME+Verbs+Used+Both+%E2%80%98Impersonally%E2%80%99+and+Reflexively%2E+Poetica+%2C+34%3A+75%E2%80%9387%2E) 11. Ogura, M. 2003: ‘Reflexive’ and ‘Impersonal’ Constructions in Medieval English. Anglia , 121.4: 535–556. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Ogura%2C+M%2E+2003%3A+%E2%80%98Reflexive%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%98Impersonal%E2%80%99+Constructions+in+Medieval+English%2E+Anglia+%2C+121%2E4%3A+535%E2%80%93556%2E) 12. Ogura, M. 2019: Indirect Object or ex-Dative with or without to in the Earlier and Later Versions of the Wycliffite Bible. In M. Stenroos, et al eds. Current Explorations in Middle English . Frankfurt am Main, Peter Lang: 193–206. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Ogura%2C+M%2E+2019%3A+Indirect+Object+or+ex%2DDative+with+or+without+to+in+the+Earlier+and+Later+Versions+of+the+Wycliffite+Bible%2E+In+M%2E+Stenroos%2C+et+al+eds%2E+Current+Explorations+in+Middle+English+%2E+Frankfurt) 13. Skeat, W. W. ed. 1887, 1871, 1874, 1878 [rpt. 1970]: The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke and Saint John . Darmstadt, Wissenschaftliche Buch-gesellschaft. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Skeat%2C+W%2E+W%2E+ed%2E+1887%2C+1871%2C+1874%2C+1878+%5Brpt%2E+1970%5D%3A+The+Gospel+According+to+Saint+Matthew%2C+Saint+Mark%2C+Saint+Luke+and+Saint+John+%2E+Darmstadt%2C+Wissenschaftliche+Buch%2Dgesellschaft%2E) 14. Sweet, H. ed. 1871–72: King Alfred’s West-Saxon Version of Gregory’s Pastoral Care . EETS, o.s. 45 and 50. London, Oxford University Press. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Sweet%2C+H%2E+ed%2E+1871%E2%80%9372%3A+King+Alfred%E2%80%99s+West%2DSaxon+Version+of+Gregory%E2%80%99s+Pastoral+Care+%2E+EETS%2C+o%2Es%2E+45+and+50%2E+London%2C+Oxford+University+Press%2E) 15. Author’s address 5-39-20 Honcho 184-0004 Koganei-shi, Tokyo (Japan) received: 26 July 2021 e-mail:ogura.dainagon@jcom.home.ne.jp revised version accepted: 8 November 2021 [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Author%E2%80%99s+address+5%2D39%2D20+Honcho+184%2D0004+Koganei%2Dshi%2C+Tokyo+%28Japan%29+received%3A+26+July+2021+e%2Dmail%3Aogura%2Edainagon%40jcom%2Ehome%2Ene%2Ejp+revised+version+accepted%3A+8+November+2021) *Updated 24 October 2026*