CAS LX 522 Syntax IWhere we areSlide 3Uniformity of Theta AssignmentSlide 5UTAHq-roles and structureSlide 8Slide 9Slide 10VP shellsUnaccusatives vs. unergativesSlide 13UnaccusativesSlide 15PreviewSlide 17Bill lied.Auxiliary selectionSlide 20Episode 4b. UTAHEpisode 4b. UTAH4.3-4.44.3-4.4CAS LX 522CAS LX 522Syntax ISyntax IWhere we areWhere we areWe’ve just come up with an We’ve just come up with an analysis of sentences with analysis of sentences with ditransitive verbs, such as ditransitive verbs, such as Pat Pat gave books to Chrisgave books to Chris that accords that accords with the constraints of the with the constraints of the syntactic system we have syntactic system we have developed so far.developed so far.Merge is binaryMerge is binary-roles are assigned to specifiers -roles are assigned to specifiers and complements.and complements.The solution is to assume a two-The solution is to assume a two-tiered structure, with a little tiered structure, with a little vv in addition to the VP.in addition to the VP.PPVVVPNPvvvPNPPatbooksto ChrisNPPgaveWhere we areWhere we areThe three The three -roles for -roles for givegive are are assigned like this:assigned like this:The PP gets a Goal The PP gets a Goal -role.-role.The lower NP gets a Theme The lower NP gets a Theme -role.-role.The highest NP (in the specifier of The highest NP (in the specifier of vvP) P) gets an Agent gets an Agent -role.-role.But how did we know that?But how did we know that?More importantly, how do kids come More importantly, how do kids come to know that?to know that?Do they memorize this list for each Do they memorize this list for each verb they learn?verb they learn?PPVVVPNPvvvPNPPatbooksto ChrisNPPgaveUniformity of Theta Uniformity of Theta AssignmentAssignmentIf kids are really memorizing If kids are really memorizing which which -role goes where for each -role goes where for each verb, there should be some verbs verb, there should be some verbs that do it in other ways.that do it in other ways.For example, there might be a For example, there might be a ditransitive verb with Theme in ditransitive verb with Theme in the specifier of the specifier of vvP, Goal in the P, Goal in the specifier of VP, and Agent in the specifier of VP, and Agent in the complement of VP.complement of VP.E.g., E.g., to tupto tup::Books tup on the shelf ChrisBooks tup on the shelf Chris‘Chris put books on the shelf.’‘Chris put books on the shelf.’AgentVVVPGoalvvvPTheme?tupUniformity of Theta Uniformity of Theta AssignmentAssignmentBut that just never happens.But that just never happens.It seems that all verbs have It seems that all verbs have -role -role assignment that looks pretty much the assignment that looks pretty much the same.same.If there’s an Agent, it’s the first (uppermost) If there’s an Agent, it’s the first (uppermost) NP.NP.If there’s a Theme it’s down close to the If there’s a Theme it’s down close to the verb.verb.Given that things Given that things seem seem to be relatively to be relatively uniform, it has been proposed that this uniform, it has been proposed that this is a fundamental property of the is a fundamental property of the syntactic system. Each syntactic system. Each -role has a -role has a consistent place in the structure.consistent place in the structure.AgentVVVPGoalvvvPThemetupUTAHUTAHThe Uniformity of Theta-Assignment The Uniformity of Theta-Assignment Hypothesis (UTAH):Hypothesis (UTAH): Identical thematic Identical thematic relationships between predicates and their relationships between predicates and their arguments are represented syntactically by arguments are represented syntactically by identical structural relationships when items are identical structural relationships when items are Merged.Merged.That is, all Agents are structurally in the same place That is, all Agents are structurally in the same place (when first Merged). All Patients are structurally in the (when first Merged). All Patients are structurally in the same place, etc.same place, etc.We can take this to be a property of the We can take this to be a property of the interpretation. interpretation. When a structure is interpreted, the When a structure is interpreted, the -role an -role an argument gets depends on where it was first Merged.argument gets depends on where it was first Merged.-roles and structure-roles and structureGreat. So, the Agent (Great. So, the Agent (PatPat) in ) in Pat Pat gave books to Chrisgave books to Chris is in the specifier is in the specifier of of vvP. Because that’s where Agents P. Because that’s where Agents go.go.But.. What about structures like the But.. What about structures like the ones we had before for things like ones we had before for things like Pat called ChrisPat called Chris??Patcalled ChrisNPVPNPVVPPVVVPNPvvvPNPPatbooksto ChrisNPPgave?-roles and structure-roles and structureWell, if we’re serious about Well, if we’re serious about working within the constraints of working within the constraints of UTAH, we need a UTAH, we need a vv there too— to there too— to host the Agent.host the Agent.Hierarchy of Projection: Hierarchy of Projection: vv > V > Vcalled ChrisNPVVPPPVVVPNPvvvPNPPatbooksto ChrisNPPgavevvvPNPPat-roles and structure-roles and structureSpecifier of Specifier of vvP = AgentP = AgentBut where’s the Theme? Isn’t that But where’s the Theme? Isn’t that in different places in in different places in Pat called Pat called ChrisChris and and Pat gave Pat gave booksbooks to Chris to Chris??called ChrisNPVVPPPVVVPNPvvvPNPPatbooksto ChrisNPPgavevvvPNPPat-roles and structure-roles and structureNP, daughter of NP, daughter of vvP = AgentP = AgentNP, daughter of VP = ThemeNP, daughter of VP = ThemePP, daughter of PP, daughter of V = Goal = GoalThat seems to work, and it seems a That seems to work, and it seems a reasonable interpretation of UTAH.reasonable interpretation of UTAH.called ChrisNPVVPPPVVVPNPvvvPNPPatbooksto ChrisNPPgavevvvPNPPatVP shellsVP shellsNoteNote.. Even though Even though vv may carry a “causative” may carry a “causative” meaning, this does meaning, this does notnot mean that it is synonymous mean that it is synonymous with the English word
View Full Document
![Nom from finite T no case from nonfinite T (T [inf], M to)](https://media.gradebuddy.com/documents/386389/7a3e15e0-7507-4825-a32d-f3e6fb67d2eb.png)
Unlocking...