3. N-GEN+R-ya (for the present-imperfect)
8.4.1 Passive in Bactrian
In comparison with other Middle Iranian languages like Middle Persian and Parthian, there are only a few examples that we can introduce as passive constructions in Bactrian. For example in Parthian and Middle Persian the past passive is formed by pp+(a)h- and present passive by pp+baw-.591 Sims-Williams introduces only two verbs as passive. The first verb is ναβισιδο (write.PRS.PASS.3s) which is mentioned with a question mark:
(J 30-31)
(353) ταδο δαραφηλο ταοανο τωζαμο σαγονδαβο μασκο
then same fine pay.SBJV.1p as-PRE here
ναβισιδο
write.PRS.PASS(?).3s
“Then we shall pay the same fine as is written herein.”592
Another verb indicated as passive by Sims-Williams is “ριζ-”to be called, be named”, passive to ραζ-”.593 The third person and present form of this verb is used in different texts. In this case the present stem is changed, whereas in the case of ναβισιδο, the present stem is changeless:
(A 2)
(354) αβο μο ρωβανγγο þαρο αβιιο ανδαγο σιδο
PRE ART of(the city) Rob city PRE-DEM borough which στηβο ριζδο
Steb call.PASS.3s
“in the city of Rob, in the borough which is called Steb”594
It must be added that many constructions in which a past verb or a past participle as adjective with the verb “to be” are used have a passive meaning. The verb “to be” can be omitted in some cases and therefore we have only a past participle as adjective but with the meaning of passive:
(Surkh Kotal 4)
(355) οτο μα λιζο πιδοριγδο
and ART fortress leave.pp
“And the fortress became deserted.”
In the following example the past and third person of this verb is used. But it functions as a passive verb:
590 Haig 2008: 87.
591 Sundermann 1989a: 128-129.
592 Sims-Williams 2000a: 61.
593 See Sims-Williams 2007a: 260.
594 Cf. Sims-Williams 2000a: 33 and Sims-Williams 2007a: 35.
(C 1)
(356) εδο μο λαþνοβωστογο μαλο νιβιχτο αβο μο
DEM ART deed of gift here write.PST.3s PRE ART
ρωβαγγο þαρο αβιιο ανδαγο
of(the city) Rob city PRE-DEM borough
“This deed of gift was written here in the city of Rob, in the borough ....”595
From the verb ναβισιδο we can understand that the passive present is formed by present stem + verbal ending. The second possibility of the present passive verb is passive stem + verbal ending. In this case, the passive stem is formed from the passive Old Iranian form ending in -ya.
The past passive form as other languages, is made with the past participle and the form of the verb “to be”.
Generally, transitive verbs built from the past stem employ the ergative construction. But sometimes the agent is unclear or it is important that the patient is mentioned. As the agent-phrase is a core argument of an ergative construction, the following agentless examples can be interpreted more as passive:
(R 21)
(357) οτο παρσο τογδο ταοανο and PRE pay.PST.3s fine
“and after the fine has been paid”596 Another example is presented here:
(V 7)
(358) μισιδο λαδο οδο παραλαδο χογαμο οδο χοριμο now give.PST.3s and sell.PST.3s freely and willingly αγγαραγο ιωγο
property certain
“Now, a certain property has been given and sold, freely and willingly.”597
In ergative constructions, the agent is frequently attached to a conjunction, adverb, or relative pronoun as an enclitic, or it appears alone as an independent pronoun or a personal name.
In a passive construction, the agent can also be mentioned. In the following example, the preposition ασο “from” is used with the agent, which is a personal pronoun:
(ba 16-17)
(359) οδο αλδο ασο ι ταοι χοβανανο βιζδανο κιρδδο and if PRE ART you.OBL shepherd.PL evil do.SBJV.3s
“And if evil should have been committed by your shepherds”598
In the following example, the preposition ασο is used with the agent, which is a personal name:
595 Cf. Sims-Williams 2000a: 39 and Sims-Williams 2007a: 35.
596 Sims-Willims 2000a: 92.
597 Sims-Williams 2000a: 114.
598 Sims-Williams 2007a: 53.
(M 2-5)
(360) ποζζο αβοραδανο δδραχμο κοαδαγο γ´ ασποριγο ασιδασο debt repayment dirham PN three complete which-PRE μωιανο παρο κιρδδιγο ασταδδ-ινδο
PN debt make.PLP-3p
“(as) repayment of a debt, the three dirhams of (king) Kawad, which had been loaned by Moyan”599
There are also other constructions which could be interpreted as passive. In these constructions, it seems that βοο- “become” plays the role of an auxiliary verb and indicates a passive construction. In this case, it is used with a past participle:
(eb 16-17)
(361) οδο κιρο κοοαδο μαρο βορδο βοοινδδο
and IMP.2s that hither pp. brought SBJV.3p
“and you should act (in such a way) that they be brought hither”600 (dc 4-5)
(362) ταδο κιρηδο κοαδο οισπο <αβο> λαδοκανο βορδο
so IMP.2sp that all PRE PN pp. brought
βοοινδαδο SBJV.3p
“so you should act (in such a way) that they are all taken to Ladkan”601 (dc 5-6)
(363) κοαδο οαþο ασιστο βοοαδο that hay pp. stored (?) SBJV.3s
“…that the hay may be stored (?)…”602
8.5 Summary
In Bactrian, there are both passive and ergative constructions. We can therefore conclude that Bactrian is a language which has a mixture of passive and ergative.
There are three kinds of constructions in Bactrian which could be interpreted as passive.
Because of the limited texts, it is not possible to formulate an exact statement. Two verbs, namely, ναβισιδο and ριζδο, have a passive formation, which are comparable to Old Iranian verbs with the passive suffix -ya. But it is not really clear whether constructions with these verbs are passive or not. In Bactrian, we can also find some constructions in which the past participle is used, though these have a passive meaning. In other constructions, the verb is past but the agent is not expressed. In this case, the verb occurs in the third person singular. As the agent is a core element in ergative constructions, it would be better to classify these constructions as passive. In both present and past constructions, we have examples of the use of the preposition ασο “with”, which is used with an agent. These constructions could also be interpreted as passive. In Middle Persian, the present passive is expressed by the construction pp+baw-.603 In Bactrian, we find the same construction in three examples. Finally, regarding the last point, we can conclude that in the case of passive constructions, Bactrian shares similarities with Western
599 Sims-Williams 2000a: 72.
600 Sims-Williams 2007a: 111.
601 Sims-Williams 2007a: 103.
602 Sims-Williams 2007a: 103.
603 Sundermann 1989a: 128-129.
Middle Iranian languages. The same characteristic can be also observed in the case of ergativity.604