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Principles & Parameters Approach in Linguistics - IV. Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra. Levels of Representation and θ-theory. D-structure Subcategorization applies in the D-structure via X-Bar theory. S-structure
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Principles & Parameters Approach in Linguistics - IV Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra
Levels of Representation and θ-theory • D-structure • Subcategorization applies in the D-structure via X-Bar theory. • S-structure • Grammatical functions (GFs), e.g. ‘subject- of’, ‘object-of’ apply at S-structure. Theta roles can be taken as GFs. • Logical Form • The semantic features of θ-roles apply at s-structure LF
X-Bar and Subcategorization 1) XP Specifier X’ X Complement • If α is a 0-level category of X-bar theory then the category β must satisfy the subcategorization frame ofα. In this case we will say that α subcategorizes the position occupied by by β. (Chomsky P: 37)
Subcategorization and Theta Marking The representation in (2) is an alternative notation of X-bar theory given in (1): 2) [γ … α…β…] [γ …β…α …] • [α is x-head of x-bar notation; β is the complement] • α and β are immediate constituents of γ • γ is XP of x-bar notation) • Head-complement order is free The same configuration [which indicates the subcategorized position] is relevant to determination of θ-role. (Chomsky
Subcategorization and Theta marking: 2) [γ … α…β…] [γ …β…α …] • α theta marks the position occupied by β. (p: 37) • α theta marks the category β if α theta marks the positionoccupied by β or a trace of β. (p: 37) • Clearly, theta marking is closely related to subcategorization. The two notions are not identical however. (p: 37)
Subcategorization and Theta marking:A difference • A verb may not subcategorize the subject position but it may theta mark the subject. • Double objects are also theta marked; but, in the strict sense, are they subcategorized?
Projection Principle (restated) 2) [γ … α…β…] [γ …β…α …] • If β is an immediate constituent of γ in (2) at leveli and γ = α’, then α theta-marks β in γ. • If α selects β in γ as lexical property, then α selects β in γ at leveli. • If α selects β in γ at leveli, then α selects β at levelj.
Subcategorization and Grammatical Functions • “From the earliest work in generative grammar, as in traditional grammar, it has been assumed that what I am now calling “θ-role” is determined in part by a representation in terms of grammatical functions (GFs) such as subject-of, object-of, and so on, where GFs are determined in terms of syntactic configurations
Levels of Representation: An Example 3) . . . VP specifier V’ kill complement (lexical) Subject Kill Object (syntax) Agent kill theme (LF) Rama killed RavaNa
Application of theta criterion • Each Argument bears one and only one -role, and each theta role is assigned to one and only one argument. • How is the above condition applied?
Theta chain and theta criterion • Any chain formed by an element moving to a theta position is not licit. 4) It seems [Mary] likes [John]] 5) Maryi seems[ti] to like [John] 6) *Mary seems [Johnji] to like [ti] 7) *Mary seems [Johnji] likes [ti] • In (6) John which has the object theta moves to the subject position; so, it gets two theta roles. Thus, the chain violates the theta criterion. • (7) shows that even a case position does not allow the theta chain.
