Studies in the ancient Greek verbs in -skĆ
This thesis examines Ancient Greek verbs such as ÎČÎ±ÌÏÎșÏ, which are suffixed (mainly in the present tense) with -ÏÎșÏ. They present both morphological and semantic problems. Firstly, it is not clear why, beside simple -ÏÎșÏ, we have formations with reduplication such as ÎłÎč-ÎłÎœÏÌ-ÏÎșÏ, and in -ÎčÌÏÎșÏ as Î"ÏÌÏ-ÎčÌÏÎșÏ. Secondly, the presents in -ÏÎșÏ have been attributed four different meanings: causative, inchoative, iterative and zero. These functions are found separately for descendants of *-skelo- in other Indo-European languages, but Greek seems unique in showing all four at the same time. After a brief review of earlier scholarship (Chapter 1) and a summary account of the evidence for *-skelo- in other Indo-European languages (Chapter 2), this thesis offers a thorough examination of Greek verbs in -ÏÎșÏ in two well-defined corpora: Homer and Plato. Chapters 3 and 4 concentrate on the morphology and semantics of -ÏÎșÏ in Homer, and Chapters 7 and 8 concern these subjects in Plato. Chapter 5 discusses the so-called 'iteratives' in -(Î")ÏÎșÏ, found mainly in Homer and Herodotus. Two short sections (Chapters 6 and 9) summarise the situation in early and Classical Greek respectively. The detailed analysis highlights the distinctions between the early and Classical period. Although the Iliad and the Odyssey preserve features of the original formations, they also provide evidence for specific innovations, most notably presents with reduplication and in -ÎčÌÏÎșÏ. It is possible, and even likely,  have a common origin with presents in -ÏÎșÏ; but even in Homer they must be treated as a separate class. It emerges that semantically the forms in -(Î")<ÏÎșÏ form a coherent category, probably marked by the feature '+REPEATED'; apparent contrasts in meaning are largely lexically determined. However, the main function of -ÏÎșÏ in Homer is that of creating presents from roots which originally yielded root aorists; the apparent causative / inchoative value is in fact based on the active/medio-passive contrast. In the Classical period, morphology and semantics move towards more regular patterns. The choice between reduplication, -ÎčÌÏÎșÏ and -ÏÎșÏ is determined by stem-type, and we find two classes of minimal pairs: those of the form causative active ÎŒÎ"ÎžÏÌÏÎșÏ 'make drunk' : inchoative mediopassive ÎŒÎ"ÎžÏÌÏÎșÎżÎŒÎ±Îč 'become drunk' : unmarked stative ÎŒÎ"ÎžÏÌÏ 'be drunk', where the action is 'externally caused'; and those of the type inchoative active ÎłÎ"ÎœÎ"ÎčÎ±ÌÏÎșÏ 'become bearded' : stative ÎłÎ"ÎœÎ"ÎčÎ±ÌÏ 'be bearded', where these is no causative alternant and the action is 'internally caused'.
Zerdin, Jason R.
Greek language ; Verb
Studies in the ancient Greek verbs in -skĆ. This thesis examines Ancient Greek verbs such as ÎČÎ±ÌÏÎșÏ, which are suffixed (mainly in the present tense) with -ÏÎșÏ. They present both morphological and semantic problems. Firstly, it is not clear why, beside simple -ÏÎșÏ, we have formations with reduplication such as ÎłÎč-ÎłÎœÏÌ-ÏÎșÏ, and in -ÎčÌÏÎșÏ as Î"ÏÌÏ-ÎčÌÏÎșÏ. Secondly, the presents in -ÏÎșÏ have been attributed four different meanings: causative, inchoative, iterative and zero. These functions are found separately for descendants of *-skelo- in other Indo-European languages, but Greek seems unique in showing all four at the same time. After a brief review of earlier scholarship (Chapter 1) and a summary account of the evidence for *-skelo- in other Indo-European languages (Chapter 2), this thesis offers a thorough examination of Greek verbs in -ÏÎșÏ in two well-defined corpora: Homer and Plato. Chapters 3 and 4 concentrate on the morphology and semantics of -ÏÎșÏ in Homer, and Chapters 7 and 8 concern these subjects in Plato. Chapter 5 discusses the so-called 'iteratives' in -(Î")ÏÎșÏ, found mainly in Homer and Herodotus. Two short sections (Chapters 6 and 9) summarise the situation in early and Classical Greek respectively. The detailed analysis highlights the distinctions between the early and Classical period. Although the Iliad and the Odyssey preserve features of the original formations, they also provide evidence for specific innovations, most notably presents with reduplication and in -ÎčÌÏÎșÏ. It is possible, and even likely,  have a common origin with presents in -ÏÎșÏ; but even in Homer they must be treated as a separate class. It emerges that semantically the forms in -(Î")<ÏÎșÏ form a coherent category, probably marked by the feature '+REPEATED'; apparent contrasts in meaning are largely lexically determined. However, the main function of -ÏÎșÏ in Homer is that of creating presents from roots which originally yielded root aorists; the apparent causative / inchoative value is in fact based on the active/medio-passive contrast. In the Classical period, morphology and semantics move towards more regular patterns. The choice between reduplication, -ÎčÌÏÎșÏ and -ÏÎșÏ is determined by stem-type, and we find two classes of minimal pairs: those of the form causative active ÎŒÎ"ÎžÏÌÏÎșÏ 'make drunk' : inchoative mediopassive ÎŒÎ"ÎžÏÌÏÎșÎżÎŒÎ±Îč 'become drunk' : unmarked stative ÎŒÎ"ÎžÏÌÏ 'be drunk', where the action is 'externally caused'; and those of the type inchoative active ÎłÎ"ÎœÎ"ÎčÎ±ÌÏÎșÏ 'become bearded' : stative ÎłÎ"ÎœÎ"ÎčÎ±ÌÏ 'be bearded', where these is no causative alternant and the action is 'internally caused'.
studies ancient_greek verb examines ancient_greek verbs ici suffix mainly present tense present morphological semantic problem firstly clear beside simple formation reduplication secondly present attribute four_different meaning causative zero function find separately indo_european language greek seem unique show time brief_review earlier_scholarship summary account evidence indo_european language offer thorough_examination greek verb well_defined corpus homer plato concentrate morphology semantics homer concern subject plato discus so_called find mainly homer herodotus short section summarise situation early classical_greek respectively detailed_analysis highlight distinction early classical_period although preserve feature original formation also_provide evidence specific innovation notably present reduplication possible even likely common origin present even homer must treat separate class emerges semantically form form coherent category probably mark feature repeated apparent contrast mean largely lexically determine however main function homer create present root originally yield root apparent causative value fact base active passive contrast classical_period morphology semantics move_towards regular pattern choice reduplication determine stem type class minimal pair form causative active izi make izi become unmarked stative action externally cause type active ici become stative ici causative action internally cause