326 LAURA Α. MICHAELIS
the embedded infinitival clause in (20a) represents a core argument not
only of the embedded infinitival verb esse but also of the matrix verb dico.
In RRG terms, the accusative-infinitive clause exemplified in (20a) repre
sents an instance of core coordination, and this analysis will be justified
below. The clause-union possibility exemplified by the common impersonal
passive exemplified in (21c) will also be discussed.
A salient property of the accusative-infinitive construction exemplified
in (20a) is its sensitivity to subjecthood. An accusative core argument of the
embedded infinitival clause which is not construed as the subject of that
clause (i.e., which would not appear in the nominative were that clause to
appear in direct discourse) cannot serve as a core argument of the matrix
predicate as shown in (22):
(22) a. Dicit ursum mel edere.
(he)says b( A) () eat(INF)
"He says that the bear eats honey"
b. Ursus dicitur mei edere.
(N) is-said (A) eat(INF)
"The bear is said to eat honey."
c. Me/ dicitur ursum edere.
honey(N) is said () eat(iNF)
"Honey is said the bear to eat."
While both of the accusative NPs in (22a), ursum and mei, represent core
arguments of edere, the former can serve as a subject of the passive verb
dicitur (22b), while the latter cannot (22c). This fact indicates that the latter
argument, unlike the former, is not a core non-subject argument of dico. It
thus appears that, in Latin, the ability to "raise to object" is a property
unique to subjects, i.e., those core arguments which would receive nomina
tive coding in oratio recta.
It is apparent, however, that the genitive arguments of the impersonal
verbs exemplified in (19), although they lack subject coding in oratio recta,
can also "raise to object" with their quirky case preserved. Examples of this
phenomenon can be seen in (23), wherein sentences containing "quirky"
raised subjects are contrasted with those in which the "raised" argument
appears in the accusative):
(23) a. Possessio cuius eos non pudere
possession(N) which(G) them(A) not shame(iNF)