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How would you categorize reflexive verbs?

Some verbs, e.g. lavarsi, are properly reflexive. For other verbs, e.g. alzarsi, the reflexive pronoun carries a different function.

Cost
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    Would you care to elaborate? I am not sure I get the difference between lavarsi (= lavare sé stessi, as opposed to wash somebody or something else) and alzarsi (= alzare sé stessi, as opposed to raise somebody or something else). – DaG Feb 28 '14 at 16:26
  • @DaG Thanks for your answer. I kept the question vague on purpose to see what sort of input I could get. I am not sure if I would consider alzarsi equivalent to lavarsi, though. – Cost Feb 28 '14 at 16:46
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    Have you seen this? http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/verbi-riflessivi_(Enciclopedia-dell'Italiano)/ There is a classification of reflexive verbs (riflessivo diretto, indiretto, reciproco, mediale etc.) that might correspond to what you are looking for. Probably, in your examples, lavarsi is a riflessivo diretto while alzarsi is a riflessivo mediale. – DaG Feb 28 '14 at 17:56

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