Difference between revisions of "Theta-position"
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| + | ==Definition== | ||
'''Theta-position''' is an [[A-position]] to which a [[theta-role]] is assigned. | '''Theta-position''' is an [[A-position]] to which a [[theta-role]] is assigned. | ||
| − | + | == Example == | |
| − | + | In ''John buys the apples'' both the arguments ''John'' and ''the apples'' are in a theta-position being theta-marked as [[Agent]] and [[Theme]]. But the verb ''seems'' in (i) does not assign a theta-role to its grammatical subject ''John''. Therefore, the matrix subject position, although an A-position, is not a theta-position. | |
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(i) John seems [t<sub>i </sub>to have left] | (i) John seems [t<sub>i </sub>to have left] | ||
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The positions in (i) containing ''John'' and its [[trace]] t<sub>i </sub>are both A-positions, but only the position of the trace is a theta-position. An A-position to which no theta-role is assigned (such as the one in (i) which is taken by ''John'') is called a theta-bar position (theta'-position). Another name for theta-bar position is non-theta position. | The positions in (i) containing ''John'' and its [[trace]] t<sub>i </sub>are both A-positions, but only the position of the trace is a theta-position. An A-position to which no theta-role is assigned (such as the one in (i) which is taken by ''John'') is called a theta-bar position (theta'-position). Another name for theta-bar position is non-theta position. | ||
| − | + | == Links == | |
| − | + | *[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Theta-position&lemmacode=165 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | |
| − | [http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Theta-position&lemmacode=165 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
* Chomsky, N. 1986a. ''Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use,'' Praeger, New York. | * Chomsky, N. 1986a. ''Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use,'' Praeger, New York. | ||
* Chomsky, N. 1981. ''Lectures on Government and Binding,'' Foris, Dordrecht. | * Chomsky, N. 1981. ''Lectures on Government and Binding,'' Foris, Dordrecht. | ||
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Revision as of 09:26, 17 August 2014
Definition
Theta-position is an A-position to which a theta-role is assigned.
Example
In John buys the apples both the arguments John and the apples are in a theta-position being theta-marked as Agent and Theme. But the verb seems in (i) does not assign a theta-role to its grammatical subject John. Therefore, the matrix subject position, although an A-position, is not a theta-position.
(i) John seems [ti to have left]
The positions in (i) containing John and its trace ti are both A-positions, but only the position of the trace is a theta-position. An A-position to which no theta-role is assigned (such as the one in (i) which is taken by John) is called a theta-bar position (theta'-position). Another name for theta-bar position is non-theta position.
Links
References
- Chomsky, N. 1986a. Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use, Praeger, New York.
- Chomsky, N. 1981. Lectures on Government and Binding, Foris, Dordrecht.
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