detransitivization
Detransitivization is a linguistic process in which a verb that is normally transitive loses one of its core arguments, typically the direct object, resulting in a reduced valency and an intransitive construction. In practice, this can produce an intransitive verb form, a reflexive or middle-voice reading, or an impersonal construction, depending on the language.
The causes and realizations of detransitivization are varied. It may occur through historical grammaticalization, where an
Detransitivization is attested across languages with different syntactic architectures, including those with rich verbal morphology, active-passive
Related concepts include valency, transitivity, intransitivity, ambitransitivity, and causative vs. inchoative alternations. Detransitivization contributes to the