Principles & Parameters Approach

in Linguistics - IV

Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra

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 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

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 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 of α. In this case we will say that α
subcategorizes the position occupied by by β.
(Chomsky P: 37)

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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
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 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 position occupied 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)
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 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?

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 Projection Principle (restated)
2) [γ … α…β…]
[γ …β…α …]
i)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
ii)
selects β in γ at leveli.
If α selects β in γ at leveli, then α selects β at
iii)
levelj.

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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

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 Levels of Representation: An Example
3) .
.
.
VP
specifier V’
kill complement (lexical)
Subject Kill Object (syntax)
Agent kill theme (LF)
Rama killed RavaNa

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 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?

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 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.

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 Thank You

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