Semantic Role Universals And Argument Linking: Theoretical, Typological, And Psycholinguistic Perspectives (Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs 165)

The concept of semantic roles has been central to linguistic theory for many decades. More specifically, the assumption of such representations as mediators in the correspondence between a linguistic form and its associated meaning has helped to address a number of critical issues related to grammatical phenomena. Furthermore, in addition to featuring in all major theories of grammar, semantic (or 'thematic') roles have been referred to extensively within a wide range of other linguistic subdisciplines, including language typology and psycho-/neurolinguistics. This volume brings together insights from these different perspectives and thereby, for the first time, seeks to build upon the obvious potential for cross-fertilisation between hitherto autonomous approaches to a common theme. To this end, a view on semantic roles is adopted that goes beyond the mere assumption of generalised roles, but also focuses on their hierarchical organisation. The book is thus centred around the interdisciplinary examination of how these hierarchical dependencies subserve argument linking - both in terms of linguistic theory and with respect to real-time language processing - and how they interact with other information types in this process. Furthermore, the contributions examine the interaction between the role hierarchy and the conceptual content of (generalised) semantic roles and investigate their cross-linguistic applicability and psychological reality, as well as their explanatory potential in accounting for phenomena in the domain of language disorders. In bridging the gap between different disciplines, the book provides a valuable overview of current thought on semantic roles and argument linking, and may further serve as a point of departure for future interdisciplinary research in this area. As such, it will be of interest to scientists and advanced students in all domains of linguistics and cognitive science. Frontmatter ......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Argument hierarchy and other factors determining argument realization......Page 24 Mismatches in semantic-role hierarchies and the dimensions of role semantics......Page 62 Thematic roles - universal, particular, and idiosyncratic aspects......Page 98 Experiencer constructions in Daghestanian languages......Page 136 Clause-level vs. predicate-level linking......Page 164 From meaning to syntax - semantic roles and beyond......Page 200 Meaning, form and function in basic case roles......Page 246 Semantic macroroles and language processing......Page 272 Thematic roles as event structure relations......Page 312 Generalised semantic roles and syntactic templates: A new framework for language comprehension......Page 336 Author index ......Page 364 Language index ......Page 369 Subject index ......Page 370 Argument Hierarchy And Other Factors Determining Argument Realization / Dieter Wunderlich -- Mismatches In Semantic-role Hierarchies And The Dimensions Of Role Semantics / Beatrice Primus -- Thematic Roles -- Universal, Particular, And Idiosyncratic Aspects / Manfred Bierwisch -- Experiencer Constructions In Daghestanian Languages / Bernard Comrie And Helma Van Den Berg -- Clause-level Vs. Predicate-level Linking / Balthasar Bickel -- From Meaning To Syntax -- Semantic Roles And Beyond / Walter Bisang -- Meaning, Form And Function In Basic Case Roles / Georg Bossong -- Semantic Macroroles And Language Processing / Robert D. Van Valin, Jr. -- Thematic Roles As Event Structure Relations / Maria Mercedes Pinango. Edited By Ina Bornkessel ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Language and the ability to use and acquire language are the most important characteristic of humankind. Linguistics aims at a systematic and scientific study of the wealth of properties of human languages, from different theoretical perspectives, and thus is of central significance for understanding what makes us human. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS aims at providing a comprehensive forum for publications in Linguistics covering the entire range of language, including its variation and variability in space and time, its acquisition, theories on the nature of human language in general, and description Semantic roles have long played a major role in all domains of linguistic explanation on account of their undisputed suitability as interface representations between syntax and semantics. By focusing on semantic roles and argument linking from such diverse perspectives as grammatical theories, language typology, psycho-/neurolinguistics and language disorders, the present volume encourages a new degree of cross-fertilisation in this important linguistic domain.