Argument Structure is a contribution to linguistics at the interface between lexical syntax and lexical semantics. It formulates an original and highly predictive theory of argument structure that accounts for a large number of syntactic phenomena. The main analytical focus is on passives, nominals, psychological predicates, and the theory of external arguments. In the course of Argument Structure, Jane Grimshaw suggests that, contrary to the prevailing view, argument structure is in fact structured; it encodes prominence relations among arguments which reflect both their thematic and their aspectual properties. The prominence relations support a new theory of external arguments, with far reaching consequences for the syntactic behavior of predicates, and the nature of cross-categorial variation in argument structure.
By:
Jane Grimshaw (Rutgers University)
Imprint: MIT Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: New edition
Volume: 18
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 15mm
Weight: 295g
ISBN: 9780262570909
ISBN 10: 0262570904
Series: Linguistic Inquiry Monographs
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 22 April 1992
Recommended Age: From 18
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
,
A / AS level
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Part 1 Principles of argument-structure representation. Part 2 The structure of argument structure: structured argument structure - the thematic dimension; theta-marking and the structure of A-structure; structured argument structure - the aspectual dimension; consequences of thematic and aspectual prominence for linking; external arguments and A-structure prominence; theta role labels. Part 3 Nominalization: ambiguity in the nominal system; nominals and event structure; the lexical representation of nominals; compounds and argument structure; theta-marking properties of argument-taking nominals; complements and modifiers; some conclusions in nominalization. Part 4 The argument structure of nominals and passives: suppressed positions and argument adjuncts; external arguments and suppression; more evidence for suppression; argument adjuncts in passives and nominals; argument, adjunct, or argument adjunct? Part 5 Argument structure and anaphora: reflexive cliticization; local anaphora and thematic-hierarchy effects; long-distance anaphora and prominence.
Jane Grimshaw is Professor of Linguistics and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University.
