Difference between revisions of "Thematic Relation (definition)"

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Note that many of these thematic roles correlate with traditional [[Case (definition)|case]] distinctions. Thematic roles are considered purely semantic classes, and one syntactic argument may bear more than one thematic role. But clearly thematic roles do have an effect on syntax; in some generative grammars this interface with syntactic structure is handled through [[Theta Role (definition)|theta roles]].
 
Note that many of these thematic roles correlate with traditional [[Case (definition)|case]] distinctions. Thematic roles are considered purely semantic classes, and one syntactic argument may bear more than one thematic role. But clearly thematic roles do have an effect on syntax; in some generative grammars this interface with syntactic structure is handled through [[Theta Role (definition)|theta roles]].
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==See Also==
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*[[Theta Role (definition)|Theta Role]]
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*[[Case (definition)|Case]]
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==External Links==
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*wikipedia article on Thematic Roles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thematic_relation
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==References==
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*Carnie, Andrew. 2006. Syntax: A Generative introduction. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Publishers.
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[[Category: Technical Definitions]]
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[[Category: Syntax]]

Revision as of 01:28, 23 June 2009

Semantically, every clause contains a verb which, in combination with the nouns present in the clause, forms a notion of an event or a state. Thematic roles classify the semantic relationships between a verb and the nouns in its clause.

For instance, the notion of kissing requires an agent and a patient (sometimes called a theme) to make a complete semantic event. These thematic roles are expressed through nouns, so we may say that in (1) Smith takes the agent thematic role, and Jones takes the patient (or theme) thematic role.

1) Smith kissed Jones.

Smith takes the agent role because he or she is the one who does the kissing. Jones takes the patient thematic role because he or she is the one being kissed.

Linguists disagree on what an exhaustive inventory of thematic roles would consist of. However, the following are widely accepted (adapted from Carnie 2006):

Agents do or precipitate the action
Patients (or themes) are recipients of the action
Experiencers feel or perceive an event
Themes are moved, experienced or perceived
Goals are entities toward which movement occurs
Sources are entities from which movement occurs
Locations are the places in which events occur
Instruments are used to perform an action
Beneficiaries are those for whom an event takes place

Note that many of these thematic roles correlate with traditional case distinctions. Thematic roles are considered purely semantic classes, and one syntactic argument may bear more than one thematic role. But clearly thematic roles do have an effect on syntax; in some generative grammars this interface with syntactic structure is handled through theta roles.

See Also

External Links

References

  • Carnie, Andrew. 2006. Syntax: A Generative introduction. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Publishers.