Ebook: Linking: The geometry of argument structure

Linking – how semantic arguments map to the syntax – is one of the challenges for theories of the syntax-semantics interface. In this new approach, Janet Randall explores the hypothesis that the positions of syntactic arguments are strictly determined by lexical argument geometry. Yielding novel – if sometimes surprising – conclusions, her Isomorphic Linking Hypothesis establishes the linking patterns of a wide range of verbs and, with those results, shows how to reason "backwards" from how a given verb's arguments link to what its lexical representation must be. Along the way, the investigation takes on thorny lexical issues – reformulating the Theta Criterion, revisiting the multiple lexical-entry debate, eliminating "indirect" arguments and redefining unaccusativity. It offers new insights into how arguments are represented, assembles a host of argument/adjunct diagnostics, and re-examines the relation between arguments and predicates. The result of this incisive study is a simple and consistent account of linking, integrated with a radical rethinking of the nature of arguments and argument structure.

From the reviews:
"Janet Randall’s Linking: The Geometry of Argument Structure, is an authoritative journey through a minefield of critical problems. Arguing a symmetry between conceptual structure and argument structure, it will richly reward those readers who do themselves the favor of taking the trip." (Samuel Jay Keyser, Professor Emeritus, MIT)

"In this book, Janet Randall, building on much recent research, develops her own version of a geometrical theory of the lexicon and explores a restrictive hypothesis on how lexical entries project into syntactic structure, based on structure preservation. Even those who, like myself, are not so inclined to think of word meaning in geometric terms, will find in this book a striking series of puzzles, challenges, and insights." (Gennaro Chierchia, Haas Foundations Professor of Linguistics, Harvard University)

"Janet Randall's book is a model of how to reason across the interface between conceptual structure and syntax. It is a goldmine of razor sharp observations about argument structure and morphology. Each theoretical step is supported by carefully developed empirical evidence. It will be a lasting accomplishment at both the theoretical and empirical level." (Tom Roeper, University of Massachusetts, Amherst)

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About fifty years ago, Stephen Ullmann wrote that polysemy is 'the pivot of semantic analysis'. Fifty years on, polysemy has become one of the hottest topics in linguistics and in the cognitive sciences at large. The book deals with the topic froma wide variety of viewpoints. The cognitive approach is supplemented and supported by diachronic, psycholinguistic, developmental, comparative, and computational perspectives. The chapters, written by some of the most eminent specialists in the field, are all underpinned by detailed discussions of methodology and theory Linking - how semantic arguments map to the syntax - is one of the challenges for theories of the syntax-semantics interface. This title explores the hypothesis that the positions of syntactic arguments are strictly determined by lexical argument geometry. It provides a simple and consistent account of linking. Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction.- A Phenomenon and a Principle: The Isomorphic Linking Hypothesis - Representations - The Competition - Advantages of this Proposal - Going Forward.- Part I A Geometric Theory of Linking - 1. Conceptual Structure - Motivating Conceptual Structure: A Review of the Problems with Theta Grids - Representing Arguments and Satisfying the Theta Criterion - Building Conceptual Structure Representations - Argument Fusion and Selection - Constraining Fusion: The Prohibition Against Double Fusion - Streamlining the Set of CS Primitives - Argument Structure: The Interface Projection from CS.- 2 Eliminating the Direct/Indirect Internal Argument Distinction - Reasons to Eliminate Indirect Arguments - Apparent Problems and Their Solutions - Syntactic Category - Linear Order - Lexical Rules - Summary .- 3. Explaining Linking Regularities - A New Linking Proposal: The Isomorphic Linking Hypothesis - Causative Verbs - Simple Causative Verbs - Productive "double agent" Causative Verbs - Comparing the ILH to Other Linking Theories - The Thematic Hierarchy Hypothesis (THH) - The Uniformity of Theta Assignment Hypothesis (UTAH) - Why the ILH Is a Better Linking Theory than THH and UTAH - Unaccusative and Unergative Verb Linking and Some Linking Predictions - Unaccusative Verb Linking - Unergative Verb Linking - Some Linking Predictions - Some Problematic Verb Classes - Summary: The Linking Theory So Far.- 4. Syntactically Unexpressed Arguments, Incorporation, and Adjuncts - Implicit Argument Verbs and Implications for Lexical Entries - Implicit Theme Verbs: cook, eat, drink - More Implicit Theme Verbs: rain and snow - Implicit PLACE verbs: deliver (Concrete PLACE) and transform (Abstract PLACE) - Incorporated Argument Verbs - Incorporated Theme Verbs and Adjunct Fusion: butter and bone - More Incorporated Theme Verbs: ticket, leaflet, stone, gas - Incorporated Concrete PLACE Verbs: bag, box, bottle, file, shelve - Coindexed Argument Verbs and the Bound Argument Condition on Linking - Delinked CS Arguments: Mismatches Introduced By Word-Formation Rules - Delinked External Arguments: Passive Verbs, Middle Verbs and Deverbal Nominals - Delinked Internal Arguments: Reciprocal Verbs and Reflexive Verbs - Maintaining the Argument/Adjunct Distinction in Light of Selected Adjuncts - Syntactic Arguments - Adjuncts - Tests for the Argument/Adjunct Distinction - Additional Justifications for the Argument/Adjunct Distinction.- 5. The Linking of Resultative Verbs: Clausal Fusion - The Conceptual Structure of Resultative Verbs - The Argument Structure of Resultative Verbs - The Argumenthood of the Result XP - The Argumenthood of the Postverbal NP - The Linking of Resultative Verbs and a Better Linking Theory - The Linking of the Inherited Arguments and a Relativized Isomorphic Linking Hypothesis - A New Kind of AS-CS Mismatch: Nonlinking Themes - Clausal Fusion: Interpreting the Unlinked Theme.- 6. The Prohibition Against Double Fusion - Deriving Resultative Mismatches from the Prohibition Against Double Fusion - Independent Evidence for the Prohibition Against Double Fusion - Passive by-phrases and Agent Subjects - With-Themes and Theme Direct Objects - PP Locations and Locative Direct Objects - The Prohibition Against Double Fusion Versus Jackendoff,s (1990) Constraints on Adjunct Rules - The Prohibition Against Double Fusion and the Theta Criterion - Against an Alternative CS for Resultatives: The Means Analysis (Jackendoff, 1990) - Jackendoff,s First Argument for the Means Analysis and a Refutation: The Actor Test - Jackendoff,s Second Argument for the Means Analysis and a Refutation: "X,s Way" - One Argument in Favor of the Agent Analysis: Unaccusative Verbs - A Second Argument in Favor of the Agent Analysis: Weather Verbs - An Overview of Linking.- Part II More Linking Results Across the Lexicon - 7. Causative Verbs with PLACE Arguments - Obligatory PLACE Arguments: render, put,and get are not Three- Argument Verbs - Abstract PLACE Verbs: render and make - Concrete PLACE Verbs: put, and position, lean and stand - Unspecified PLACE Verbs: get and keep - Optional Implicit PLACEs - Concrete PLACE Verbs: deliver, transmit and convey - Abstract PLACE Verbs: convert, change, alter and transform - A Different Type of Abstract PLACE Verb, or "Pseudoresultatives": transitive break - 8. Unaccusatives: A Cluster of Verb Classes - Unaccusative Verbs with Obligatory PLACE Arguments: go, turn, get and be - Unaccusative Verbs with Optional PLACE Arguments: fall and change - Unaccusative Pseudoresultatives: break (into pieces) - Unaccusative Resultatives - Unaccusative/Unergative Alternating Verbs: roll and march - Defining "Unaccusative Verb"- Unaccusative/Causative Alternating Verbs: pierce and climb.- 9. Complex Causative Verbs - Causative Manner-of-Motion Verbs: march, dance, run, skip, and swim - Causative "Material Means" Verbs: paste and staple - Causative Alternating Verbs: A Reanalysis of the load and spray Classes - The with Variants - The Locative Variants - 10. Other Verb Classes, Other Issues, and Conclusions - Adjunct Fusion Versus Argument Linking: bag and butter - Non-Causative Transitive Verbs: enter and inhabit - More on Replacing GO with BECOME - Conclusions and Further Thoughts Summary of Definitions, Principles and Rules References Index of English Words Discussed Index