Theta theory / by Martin Haiden.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Haiden, Martin, 1969-

Series:

Studies in generative grammar ; 78.

Studies in generative grammar ; 78

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lexicology.

Cognition.

Semantics.

Grammar, Comparative and general--Syntax.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

German language--Verb.

German language.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (308 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : Mouton de Gruyter, c2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Theta Theory explores the lexicon as an interface in the strict sense, as facilitating the flow of information between cognition and the computational system of language. It argues for the traditional concept of a listed lexicon, where semantic roles are encoded as features of verbs, and against event decomposition. Part one of the book discusses the link between cognition and the lexicon. Mainstream theories of lexical semantics are critically reviewed. Furthermore, this part provides an extensive description of the relevant data in German, including agentivity, causation, psychological predicates, and different types of diathesis alternations. Part two is devoted to the link between the lexicon and syntax. It develops a parallel model of grammatical derivation, which allows the formulation of robust generalizations over thematic role assignment, but at the same time acknowledges the relevance of other components, in particular morpho-phonology and narrow syntax. The theory is applied to a wide range of German constructions including modal infinitives, the present and gerundive participle, the past/passive/adjectival participle, verbal particles, auxiliary selection, and unaccusatives/reflexives. The book is of interest for students and scholars of lexical semantics, for descriptive German linguistics, and for linguists concerned with the development of the Minimalist Program.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Chapter 1. From lexical semantics to cognitive psychology, and back again

Chapter 2. German verbs: lexical representation and argument realization

Chapter 3. A Bare Phrase Structure of Argument Expression

Chapter 4. Applications and extensions: participial and infinitival constructions

Back matter

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [275]-289) and index.

ISBN:

9786613396501

9781283396509

1283396505

9783119166577

311916657X

9783110197471

3110197472

OCLC:

476120309