Reflexive Verbs In Polish: On The Inclusion Of Slavic Language Into A Model Based On Germanic Languages

Abstract This article examines whether and to what extent Polish can be integrated into a model based on Germanic languages. The model deals with the categorization and use of reflexive verbs and pronouns. In addition to some similarities between languages and language families, the phenomena in which there are disagreements are of particular interest. Polish has usage types that were not taken into account in the model due to their absence in the original languages under study. These include the use of reflexive verbs as licensors of null objects. License elements are language elements/constructs that allow other language elements to appear. Reflexive verbs in Polish license or allow the occurrence of null objects, which means that null objects in combination with reflexive verbs lead to a well-formed construction.