Ancient Greek Cognate object constructions as an instance of complex predication: issues in (in)transitivity

This paper aims to provide an integrated interpretation of Ancient Greek cognate object constructions (COCs, e.g. λόγον λέγω, “to give a speech”) by considering them as complex predicates, lexically represented by verbal multi-word expressions. COCs force a reinterpretation of the action expressed by the verb as one involving the creation of the event distinctively characterising its lexical meaning. The nominalised event surfaces in syntax as an argument. Semantically, this restructuring of the predicate gives the opportunity of further specifying the meaning of the verb, thanks to the possibility of modifying and hyponymically restricting the CO. Pragmatically, it allows the treatment of the CO as a discourse referent, which may be focalised. Two further theoretical issues are discussed: 1. the criteria for distinguishing between unergative verbs with minor transitive uses, triggered by COs, and transitive verbs with minor intransitive uses, triggered by object omission; 2. the criteria for distinguishing transitive complex predicates, especially COCs (e.g. “to sing hymns”) and transitive activities (e.g. “to drink wine”), from one another and from other transitive structures.