Predicate-Argument Structure
(Redirected from Argument (linguistics))
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
A Predicate-Argument Structure is a structure of a predicate phrase between its verb and its verb semantic arguments.
- Example(s):
[A0 He] [V is] [A1 Swiss]); ([A0 she] [V is] [A1 Dutch], for "He is Swiss and she is Dutch.".[A0 He] [AM-MOD would] [AM-NEG n't] [V accept] [A1 anything of value] from [A2 those he was writing about], for "He wouldn't accept anything of value from those he was writing about.".
- See: Verb Phrase, Sentence Predicate, Subcategorization (Linguistics), Complement (Linguistics), Syntactic Category, Adjunct (Grammar), Dependency Grammar, Valency (Linguistics).
References
2015
- (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_(linguistics) Retrieved:2015-6-21.
- In linguistics, an argument is an expression that helps complete the meaning of a predicate, [1] and in this regard, the complement is a closely related concept. Most predicates take one, two, or three arguments. A predicate and its arguments form a predicate-argument structure. The discussion of predicates and arguments is associated most with (content) verbs and noun phrases (NPs), although other syntactic categories can also be construed as predicates and as arguments. Arguments must be distinguished from adjuncts. While a predicate needs its arguments to complete its meaning, the adjuncts that appear with a predicate are optional; they are not necessary to complete the meaning of the predicate. [2] Most theories of syntax and semantics acknowledge arguments and adjuncts, although the terminology varies, and the distinction is generally believed to exist in all languages. In syntax, the terms argument and complement overlap in meaning and use to a large extent. Dependency grammars sometimes call arguments actants, following Tesnière (1959).
The area of grammar that explores the nature of predicates, their arguments, and adjuncts is called valency theory. Predicates have a valence; they determine the number and type of arguments that can or must appear in their environment. The valence of predicates is also investigated in terms of subcategorization.
- In linguistics, an argument is an expression that helps complete the meaning of a predicate, [1] and in this regard, the complement is a closely related concept. Most predicates take one, two, or three arguments. A predicate and its arguments form a predicate-argument structure. The discussion of predicates and arguments is associated most with (content) verbs and noun phrases (NPs), although other syntactic categories can also be construed as predicates and as arguments. Arguments must be distinguished from adjuncts. While a predicate needs its arguments to complete its meaning, the adjuncts that appear with a predicate are optional; they are not necessary to complete the meaning of the predicate. [2] Most theories of syntax and semantics acknowledge arguments and adjuncts, although the terminology varies, and the distinction is generally believed to exist in all languages. In syntax, the terms argument and complement overlap in meaning and use to a large extent. Dependency grammars sometimes call arguments actants, following Tesnière (1959).