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2024 - Syntax - Theme 4 - Semantic Syntax

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Поліна Олександрівна Масловська
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2024 - Syntax - Theme 4 - Semantic Syntax

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Поліна Олександрівна Масловська
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
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THEME 4

SEMANTIC SYNTAX

Outline

1. The logical (propositional) structure of the


sentence
2. The deep semantic structure of the sentence
(semantic roles)
Key terms
O proposition O counteragent / reciprocant
O predicate O experiencer
O argument O elementative
O semantic role O instrument
O deep structure O means
O case frame O source
O agent O stimulus
O object O goal
O patient / undergoer O location
O addressee
O recipient / beneficiary
1. THE LOGICAL (PROPOSITIONAL)
STRUCTURE OF THE SENTENCE

The logical description of the sentence is aimed


at establishing the connection between
- the sentence structure and
- the structure of thought

e.g. "subject", "predicate", "copula" are


originally logical terms.
Strictly speaking, propositions are not part of
grammar. They belong to the conceptual structure

which informs and shapes grammar.

<argument 1 – predicate (– argument 2)>

Mary = argument 1
hates = predicate
phonetics = argument 2
The squiggs trazed wombly in the harlish
iggle hoop.
sth/smb [pl] act [past] in such a way
such there

predi-
be cate
predicate

arguments
2. THE DEEP SEMANTIC STRUCTURE
OF THE SENTENCE

O the late 1960s


O Charles Fillmore “The Case for Case” (1968):
as opposed to the syntactic (surface, overt) structure,
the sentence has also a covert structure, or the role
structure: it is formed by such categories as AGENT,
EXPERIENCER, INSTRUMENT, OBJECT,
SOURCE, GOAL, LOCATION, TIME, etc.
AGENT the instigator of the John opened the door.
action, controls it, The door was opened
typically animate by John.

ELEMEN- inanimate The war scattered


TATIVE people.
EXPERIEN- the receiver of He saw her.
CER information with the He hesitated.
verbs of perception or His eyes twinkled.
a bearer of My head aches.
uncontrollable feeling
OBJECT the thing affected by the He broke the window.
action (AFFECTIVE) The stone fell.
The yard was overlooked.
or effected by the action He wrote a poem.
(EFFECTIVE) She told a lie.

PATIENT the animate OBJECT He has been robbed.


ADDRESSEE the recipient of the They told him the news.
message with the verbs
of speech
BENEFICIARY / the animate participant He offered his seat to a
RECIPIENT involved into the action disabled person.
in terms of harm / She received a gift.
benefit
COUNTER- the participant of a We are friends with Tom.
AGENT / symmetrical relationship They trade with many
RECIPROCANT with the AGENT countries.
INSTRU- the inanimate object or The key opened the
MENT force causally involved door.
in the action; does not John opened the door
undergo any changes with a key.

MEANS It was written in ink.


SOURCE the place from where
the action initiates She moved from
(with verbs of her apartment.
dynamic spatial She teaches
location; verbs of English.
occupation)
STIMULUS the source of He saw the girl.
information with the The very idea is
verbs of perception or shocking.
the source of
uncontrollable feeling
GOAL the place towards They left for
which the action is Poltava.
directed
LOCATION location /spatial Chicago is windy.
orientation of the state It is windy in
or action identified Chicago.
with the verb

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