OK. Let's try this from a different angle. :-DAndrew Whitehead said:You say [mediopassive reads] is describing a 'state', but where is the stative quality in the verb 'reads'? I have asked this several times now but it has not been answered.
The structural subject of mediopassive constructs that are housed with the verbs break and wash doesn't have to be interpreted as having undergone a physical change in state. Rather, something like it had at one time undergone a process that changed its physical state:
[1] Mediopassive: This pane of glass breaks easily.
No change in state: It's not broken, though, but I or someone else has experienced breaking panes like it; therefore, that kind of glass breaks easily
Change in state: It's broken. I or someone else broke it and I am showing it to you now.
[2] Mediopassive: These dirty clothes wash easily.
No change in state: They haven't been washed, though, but I or someone else has experienced washing clothes like them; therefore, those kinds of clothes wash easily
Change in state: They have been washed. I or someone else washed them and I am showing them to you now.
Now, just as the structural subjects of mediopassive wash and break don't have to be interpreted as undergoing a change in state, the structural subject of mediopassive read doesn't have to be interpreted in that way either. The book is either unread or read. Change of state: an unread book becomes a read book. No change of state: an unread book is left unread with the knowledge that something like it had at one time undergone a change of state, notably, having been read.Mediopassive: This book reads well.
No change of state: It hasn't been read by me, personally, but someone has experienced reading it; therefore, books like it read well.
Change of state: It has been read by me.
In short, read is a psychological verb. Nothing physical happens to its semantic object (i.e., the book doesn't change physically). Mediopassive read, like its adjectival counterparts in an unread book and a read book expresses a state. It describes the present state of the noun book. And that's how mediopassive read has a 'stative quality'. Andrew, please note that, I'm not trying to force any reading on you. My intentions are good.
All the best. :-D
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