Semantic macrorole

In Role and Reference Grammar, the semantic macroroles are the two generalized semantic roles actor and undergoer.

• "The second type of semantic roles is generalized semantic roles, 'actor' and 'undergoer'. These are the two primary arguments of a transitive predication, either one of which may be the single argument of an intransitive verb." (Van Valin 2005:60)

Synonyms

The semantic macroroles of RRG very roughly correspond to

• hyperroles (in Aleksandr E. Kibrik's work)
• protoroles (in David Dowty's work)

Reference

• Van Valin, Robert D., Jr. 2005. Exploring the syntax-semantics interface. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Other languages

German semantische Makrorolle
Spanish macropapel semántico