1. 1 Principles & Parameters Approach in Linguistics - IV Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra

2. 2 Levels of Representation and θ-theory  D-structure  Subcategorization applies in the D-structure via X-Bar theory.  S-structure  Grammatical functions (GFs), e.g. ‘subject- of’, ‘object-of’ apply at S-structure. Theta roles can be taken as GFs.  Logical Form  The semantic features of θ-roles apply at s- structure LF

3. 3 X-Bar and Subcategorization 1)XP Specifier X’ X Complement  If α is a 0-level category of X-bar theory then the category β must satisfy the subcategorization frame of α. In this case we will say that α subcategorizes the position occupied by by β. (Chomsky P: 37)

4. 4 Subcategorization and Theta Marking The representation in (2) is an alternative notation of X-bar theory given in (1): 2)[ γ … α…β…] [ γ …β…α …]  [α is x-head of x-bar notation; β is the complement]  α and β are immediate constituents of γ  γ is XP of x-bar notation)  Head-complement order is free The same configuration [which indicates the subcategorized position] is relevant to determination of θ-role. (Chomsky

5. 5 Subcategorization and Theta marking: 2)[ γ … α…β…] [ γ …β…α …]  α theta marks the position occupied by β. (p: 37)  α theta marks the category β if α theta marks the position occupied by β or a trace of β. (p: 37)  Clearly, theta marking is closely related to subcategorization. The two notions are not identical however. (p: 37)

6. 6 Subcategorization and Theta marking: A difference  A verb may not subcategorize the subject position but it may theta mark the subject.  Double objects are also theta marked; but, in the strict sense, are they subcategorized?

7. 7 Projection Principle (restated) 2)[ γ … α…β…] [ γ …β…α …] i) If β is an immediate constituent of γ in (2) at level i and γ = α’, then α theta-marks β in γ. ii) If α selects β in γ as lexical property, then α selects β in γ at level i. iii) If α selects β in γ at level i, then α selects β at level j.

8. 8 Subcategorization and Grammatical Functions  “From the earliest work in generative grammar, as in traditional grammar, it has been assumed that what I am now calling “θ-role” is determined in part by a representation in terms of grammatical functions (GFs) such as subject-of, object- of, and so on, where GFs are determined in terms of syntactic configurations

9. 9 Levels of Representation: An Example 3).. VP specifierV’ killcomplement (lexical) SubjectKillObject(syntax) Agentkilltheme(LF) Rama killed RavaNa

10. 10 Application of theta criterion  Each Argument bears one and only one  -role, and each theta role is assigned to one and only one argument.  How is the above condition applied?

11. 11 Theta chain and theta criterion  Any chain formed by an element moving to a theta position is not licit. 4) It seems [Mary] likes [John]] 5) Mary i seems[t i ] to like [John] 6) *Mary seems [John ji ] to like [t i ] 7) *Mary seems [John ji ] likes [t i ]  In (6) John which has the object theta moves to the subject position; so, it gets two theta roles. Thus, the chain violates the theta criterion.  (7) shows that even a case position does not allow the theta chain.

12. 12 Thank You