John Benjamins Publishing Company
The syntax of argument structure
Abstract
Although current generative theory acknowledges the existence of argument structure (AS), it nevertheless continues to assume that syntax is the primary computational system, which explains why it has failed to produce an integrated theory of morphosyntax. I define morphosyntax as the relation between the syntactically relevant information encoded in a verb’s AS, the affix-driven operations that alter initial AS representation, and the syntactic structure projected from derived AS (see Babby 2009). In this paper I present an explicit derivational theory of the mapping between AS and syntax. My main hypothesis is that AS and the affix-driven operations that alter it play a central role in the sentence’s derivation and many of the derivational operations that were assumed in earlier theory to be syntactic are in fact AS-level operations that have predictable syntactic effects.
Abstract
Although current generative theory acknowledges the existence of argument structure (AS), it nevertheless continues to assume that syntax is the primary computational system, which explains why it has failed to produce an integrated theory of morphosyntax. I define morphosyntax as the relation between the syntactically relevant information encoded in a verb’s AS, the affix-driven operations that alter initial AS representation, and the syntactic structure projected from derived AS (see Babby 2009). In this paper I present an explicit derivational theory of the mapping between AS and syntax. My main hypothesis is that AS and the affix-driven operations that alter it play a central role in the sentence’s derivation and many of the derivational operations that were assumed in earlier theory to be syntactic are in fact AS-level operations that have predictable syntactic effects.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Argument structure and syntactic relations 1
-
Part 1. Semantic and syntactic properties of the event structure
- Aspectual composition in causatives 13
- Atelicity and anticausativization 35
- Minimalist variability in the verb phrase 69
- On the l-syntax of manner and causation 89
- Nominalization, event, aspect and argument structure 113
-
Part 2. A global view on argument structure
- The syntax of argument structure 133
- Argument structure and quantifier scope 151
-
Part 3. Syntactic heads involved in argument structure
- An l-syntax for adjuncts 183
- The derivation of dative alternations 203
- Basque ditransitives 233
- Applicative structure and Mandarin ditransitives 261
- Unintentionally out of control 283
-
Part 4. Argument structure in language acquisition
- Zero time-arguments in French child language 305
- Reevaluating the role of innate linking rules in the acquisition of verb argument structure 325
- Name and subject index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Argument structure and syntactic relations 1
-
Part 1. Semantic and syntactic properties of the event structure
- Aspectual composition in causatives 13
- Atelicity and anticausativization 35
- Minimalist variability in the verb phrase 69
- On the l-syntax of manner and causation 89
- Nominalization, event, aspect and argument structure 113
-
Part 2. A global view on argument structure
- The syntax of argument structure 133
- Argument structure and quantifier scope 151
-
Part 3. Syntactic heads involved in argument structure
- An l-syntax for adjuncts 183
- The derivation of dative alternations 203
- Basque ditransitives 233
- Applicative structure and Mandarin ditransitives 261
- Unintentionally out of control 283
-
Part 4. Argument structure in language acquisition
- Zero time-arguments in French child language 305
- Reevaluating the role of innate linking rules in the acquisition of verb argument structure 325
- Name and subject index 345
