Advances in Role and Reference Grammar

314 LAURA Α. MICHAELIS

"logical subjects" are dative and whose "logical objects" are nominative;

two- and three-place predicates with non-accusative (dative, genitive, and

ablative) "objects"; and impersonal verbs taking accusative "logical sub­

jects" and genitive "logical objects".

1.1 Inverse verbs

In Latin, the inverse configuration — whereby a cognizer receives dative

coding and a cognized item nominative coding — both characterizes a class

of verbs having this valency requirement and provides two passive-patterns,

of which only the so-called "passive periphrastic" is productive.

First, certain verbs of perception and cognition require a nominative

argument denoting the cognized item or "logical object" and a dative argu­

ment denoting the cognizer or "logical subject":

(3) a. Cetera item, quae cuique libuissent.

other-things(N) same which(N) anyone(ö) had-pleased

"Any other things which had pleased anyone..." Suet. Iul.

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b. Non placet M. Antonio consulatus meus.

not pleases M. Antonius(ö) consulship(N) ()

"My consulship does not please M. Antonius." Cic. Phil. 2,

12

c. Cum homini pedes dolere coepissent.

when man(ö) feet(N) hurt(iNF) begin

"When a man's feet begin to hurt him..." Varr. R.R. 1,2,27

Second, some cognition verbs in the passive perfect are found in the

inverse configuration. Although in the active such verbs sanction the

nominative-accusative pattern, in the passive perfect, these verbs take a

dative "logical subject" and nominative "logical object":

(4) Haec omnia mihi perspecta et considerata

these(N) all(N) me(ö) looked-over(N) and considered(N)

sunt.

are

"I have looked over and considered all of these things."

Third, the inverse configuration constitutes the highly productive pat­

tern sometimes called the passive periphrastic. Here, the nominative of the