Grammatical Relations and Semantic Roles

Argument structure: a predicate can have a certain number of arguments, each of which bears a distinct semantic role. Terms: NPs functioning as subject and direct object. Non-terms: NPs not bearing one of these grammatical relations
SUBJECT > DIRECT OBJECT > INDIRECT OBJECT > NON-TERMS

The semantic role of an NP depends upon the meaning of the verb it occurs with.

Semantic Roles
syntactically define the relations between
subject-predicate-direct object describe events from a relational perspective arguments, theta roles, cases, valency (Fillmore, Chafe, Gruber, Lakoff) A model of understanding, a theory about the way we categorize experience and comprehend discourses ( Carlson & Tannenhouse, 1988).

Inventory of Semantic Roles

agent = is typically animate and normally
instigates the actions it performs and does so willfully and intentionally. Some verbs require the agent to act intentionally whereas others allow both intentional and unintentional agents e.g. a. Tom broke (by accident) the window. b. Grandma made a delicious apple-pie. > actor, affecting, force e.g. c. Mike crossed the street in a hurry. d. The clown amused the children. e. The wind blew the house down.

 patient = is either in a state or condition

or undergoes a change of state or condition e.g. a. The fox is dead. (state) b. The fox died. (change of state) c. The dog bit the old man. d. The manager fired the accountant. e. The arrow hit the apple. f. The opera delights Mary.
Patient arguments typically occur with verbs like kill, smash, break, crush, wash, and destroy

> undergoer, object, affected

 theme = refers to entities which are

located or which undergo a change of location = also denotes entities which are possessed or undergo a change of possession.

e.g. a. Chris gave the notebook to Dana. b. Pat put the book on the table. Themes typically occur with verbs like put, place, give, send, and buy.

 experiencer = the individual who feels or

perceives the event or action e.g. a. Susan surprised us with her late coming. b. The girl saw a seagull in the distance. c. He loves his Dalmatian. beneficiary/benefective = the individual who takes advantage of the action expressed by the verb and initiated by the agent e.g. a. The teacher congratulated his students. b. Jake gave Doris a bunch of roses.

 location = source
= path = goal e.g. a. The bus leaves from Sinaia. b. The train goes to London twice a week. c. The coach will reach Vienna via Budapest. d. The water sprang from the pipe. instrument = the object with which the action is performed e.g. a. This key will open the door. b. I was impressed by his words. c. He hit the table with a stick.

EXERCISES

1. Analyze the following sentences in terms of

semantic roles, according to the model: e.g. John broke the window with a hammer. break < agent, patient, instrument> a. Mother taught her children scrabble . b. Eduard offered her a beautiful necklace. c. My deskmate gave me his pen. d. Our neighbours have decorated their house. e. Tom saw the painting. f. Harry showed the painting to Tom. g. The ship went to Casablanca. h. The shark sank the boat.