Difference between revisions of "Argument"
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An '''argument''' is a [[noun phrase]] (or sometimes [[adpositional phrase]]) that is required to cooccur with a [[verb]] (or other argument-taking expression). | An '''argument''' is a [[noun phrase]] (or sometimes [[adpositional phrase]]) that is required to cooccur with a [[verb]] (or other argument-taking expression). | ||
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| + | In [[Generative syntax]], ''Argument'' is a [[phrase]] which is a [[referential expression]] and which is associated with a [[theta-role]] assigned by a lexical [[head]]. | ||
===Examples=== | ===Examples=== | ||
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* Please give ''my regards'' ''to your husband''. | * Please give ''my regards'' ''to your husband''. | ||
* On the boat ''the passengers'' rely ''on the captain''. | * On the boat ''the passengers'' rely ''on the captain''. | ||
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| + | The NPs ''John'' and ''apples'' in (i)a are arguments of ''eat'' and the embedded sentence in (i)b is an argument of ''obvious''. The phrase ''next week'' in (ii) is not an argument (of ''visit''), and is assigned no theta-role. | ||
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| + | (i) a John eats apples | ||
| + | b That you're in love, is obvious | ||
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| + | In Chomsky (1986a), arguments are construed as [[chain]]s. Now we can say that in (iii) the theta-role of ''hit'' is assigned to the antecedent ''John'', hence is associated with the argument (John<sub>i</sub>, t<sub>i</sub>), which is a chain. | ||
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| + | (iii) John<sub>i</sub> was hit t<sub>i</sub> | ||
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| + | === Semantics === | ||
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| + | in the formula P(a), a is called the argument of the [[predicate]] P. Generally, for a predicate with [[arity]] n, in P(a<sub>1</sub>,...,a<sub>n</sub>), a<sub>1</sub>,...,a<sub>n</sub> are called the arguments of P. <br /> | ||
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===Comments=== | ===Comments=== | ||
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*German [[Argument (de)|Argument]] | *German [[Argument (de)|Argument]] | ||
*Russian [[аргумент]] | *Russian [[аргумент]] | ||
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| + | === Link === | ||
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| + | [http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Argument&lemmacode=1035 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
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| + | === References === | ||
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| + | * 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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{{dc}} | {{dc}} | ||
[[Category:Syntax]] | [[Category:Syntax]] | ||
[[Category:Valence]] | [[Category:Valence]] | ||
Revision as of 15:50, 11 February 2009
An argument is a noun phrase (or sometimes adpositional phrase) that is required to cooccur with a verb (or other argument-taking expression).
In Generative syntax, Argument is a phrase which is a referential expression and which is associated with a theta-role assigned by a lexical head.
Examples
In the following sentences, the italicized noun phrases (or adpositional phrases) are arguments:
- Tasaku bought a ticket on Friday.
- Please give my regards to your husband.
- On the boat the passengers rely on the captain.
The NPs John and apples in (i)a are arguments of eat and the embedded sentence in (i)b is an argument of obvious. The phrase next week in (ii) is not an argument (of visit), and is assigned no theta-role.
(i) a John eats apples
b That you're in love, is obvious
In Chomsky (1986a), arguments are construed as chains. Now we can say that in (iii) the theta-role of hit is assigned to the antecedent John, hence is associated with the argument (Johni, ti), which is a chain.
(iii) Johni was hit ti
Semantics
in the formula P(a), a is called the argument of the predicate P. Generally, for a predicate with arity n, in P(a1,...,an), a1,...,an are called the arguments of P.
Comments
Arguments are typically contrasted with adjuncts, i.e. noun phrases or adpositional phrases that are not syntactically required, but serve to modify the clause or another constituent.
Subtypes
Synonyms
- actant (Tesnière's term)
- complement (though this term only refers to nonsubject arguments)
Polysemy
Argument also refers to
- an argument of a function (in mathematical logic)
other languages
Link
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics
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.
