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Re: memo



On Fri, 28 Oct 1994, Penn State is #1 wrote:

> I have what must seem like a very mundane question, but one that I would like ananswer to nonetheless.  It concerns middle voice and/or deponent verbs.  How
> do you parse these, specifically what voice do you give them?  For example,
> apokrinomai, "I answer," is of course passive in form, but active in meaning. 
> Would you instruct a student to parse it as first person, singular, present,
> deponent, indicative?  Or would you recommend 1st pers., sing., pres., MIDDLE, 
> indicative.  I have seen both done, and I am not sure what is normal procedure.
> Thanks for any help you can give.
> 
> Andy Smith

	My understanding of the difference between a deponent and a 
middle is that a deponent verb has an active sense with passive endings, but 
never takes the active endings.  A deponent verb is a special type of verb, an 
exception to "normal" verb conjugation.
	A verb is called "middle," on the other hand, when it normally 
takes the active endings, but in a specific situation, has taken a 
passive ending while retaning an active sense.
	Thus, apokrinomai would always be a present deponent indicative, while 
louomai, in a situation where it should be translated active, would be 
called a present middle indicative.

Travis Bauer
Student of Religion at Jamestown College, ND
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