Cognate accusative is an linguistic term that refers to a noun in a language that is grammatically linked to the verb through a similar roots, origins, and meanings. The word is spelled [ˈkɑɡnət əˈkjuzətɪv] in IPA phonetic transcription. It's important to note that the "g" in "cognate" is pronounced as a hard "g" sound, as in "go." The stress is on the first syllable, and the final "-tive" is pronounced with a schwa sound, as in the word "native." The term is commonly used in linguistic theories and analyses.
Cognate accusative refers to a grammatical construction in which a verb and its direct object share the same root or stem. In this construction, the accusative noun is derived from the same linguistic root as the verb it accompanies.
The term "cognate" in this context refers to a linguistic relationship between words that are related in meaning and share a common origin. When used in the accusative case, the noun in a cognate accusative construction emphasizes the action described by the verb. This construction is most commonly found in languages with a case system, such as Latin, German, or Classical Greek.
For example, in Latin, the verb "amare" (to love) can be used with a cognate accusative to emphasize the action of love. So, one may say "te amo" (I love you) where "te" is the accusative form of the pronoun "you" and "amo" is the verb "to love". The noun "te" here functions as a cognate accusative since it derives from the same root as the verb "amare".
Cognate accusative is often used to intensify or emphasize the action of the verb, adding a sense of directness or completeness. It aids in highlighting the connection between the verb and its object, emphasizing the unity of the action and the entity acted upon.
The etymology of the word "cognate accusative" can be broken down as follows:
1. Cognate: This word comes from the Latin word "cognatus", which means "blood relative" or "kindred", and is derived from "co-" (meaning "together") and "gnatus" (meaning "born"). "Cognate" is used in linguistics to describe words in different languages that have a common origin, often sharing similar sounds and meanings.
2. Accusative: This word comes from the Latin word "accusativus", which means "pertaining to accusing". In Latin grammar, the accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.