Exploring the Syntax-Semantics Interface

Language is a system of communication in which grammatical structures function to express meaning in context. While all languages can achieve the same basic communicative ends, they each use different means to achieve them, particularly in the divergent ways that syntax, semantics and pragmatics interact across languages. This book looks in detail at how structure, meaning, and communicative function interact in human languages. Working within the framework of Role and Reference Grammar (RRG), Van Valin proposes a set of rules, called the 'linking algorithm', which relates syntactic and semantic representations to each other, with discourse-pragmatics playing a role in the linking. Using this model, he discusses the full range of grammatical phenomena, including the structures of simple and complex sentences, verb and argument structure, voice, reflexivization and extraction restrictions. Clearly written and comprehensive, this book will be welcomed by all those working on the interface between syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Figures......Page 11 Tables......Page 16 Preface......Page 19 Abbreviations......Page 20 Introduction......Page 25 1.1 The layered structure of the clause......Page 27 1.2 Operators......Page 32 1.3 Formal representation of clause structure......Page 35 1.4 Clause structure in dependent-marking and head-marking languages......Page 40 1.5 Adjuncts and the periphery......Page 43 1.6 Adpositional and noun phrase structure......Page 45 2.1 Verb classes and logical structures......Page 55 2.1.1 Verb classes and Aktionsart......Page 56 2.1.2 Logical structures......Page 66 2.3 Nouns and noun phrases......Page 74 2.4.1 Thematic relations......Page 77 2.4.2 Macroroles......Page 84 3.1 Topic and focus......Page 92 3.2 Focus structure and focus types......Page 93 3.3 Morphosyntactic marking of focus structure......Page 97 3.4 Formal representation of focus structure......Page 101 3.5 Focus structure and the notion of VP......Page 104 3.6 Focus structure and the interpretation of quantifier scope......Page 105 4.1 Do all languages have grammatical relations?......Page 113 4.2 Privileged syntactic arguments......Page 118 4.3 Types of privileged syntactic arguments......Page 125 4.4 Case marking and agreement......Page 131 4.5 Other syntactic functions......Page 139 5.0 General considerations......Page 152 5.1 The linking algorithm......Page 153 5.1.1 Constructional schemas......Page 155 5.1.2 From semantics to syntax......Page 160 5.1.3 From syntax to semantics......Page 173 5.2 The role of the lexicon in grammar......Page 182 5.3 Reflexivization......Page 185 5.4.1 Discourse structure and the focus structure projection......Page 194 5.4.2 Focus structure and linearization......Page 198 5.4.3 Focus structure and questions......Page 203 5.4.4 The pervasive role of discourse-pragmatics in grammar......Page 206 6.1 Nexus relations......Page 207 6.2 The layered structure of the clause and juncture......Page 212 6.3 Symmetrical vs asymmetrical linkage......Page 222 6.4 Operators in complex sentences......Page 225 6.6 Interclausal semantic relations and the interclausal relations hierarchy......Page 229 6.7 Focus structure in complex sentences......Page 237 6.8 Complex NPs......Page 244 6.9 Syntactic templates for complex sentences......Page 247 7.0.1 The semantics-to-syntax linking algorithm......Page 249 7.0.2 The syntax-to-semantics linking algorithm......Page 250 7.1 Linking in clausal junctures......Page 252 7.2 Linking in nuclear junctures......Page 258 7.3 Linking in core junctures......Page 263 7.3.1 Control constructions......Page 265 7.3.2 Matrix-coding constructions......Page 274 7.3.3 Core junctures and the domain of case assignment......Page 281 7.4 Linking in complex noun phrases......Page 284 7.5 Reflexivization in complex sentences......Page 291 7.6 Constraints on linking in WH-questions and related constructions......Page 296 References......Page 318 Languages index......Page 328 Subject index......Page 330 Working Within The Framework Of Role And Reference Grammar (rrg), The Author Proposes A Set Of Rules, Called The 'linking Algorithm', Which Relates Syntactic And Semantic Representations To Each Other, With Discourse-pragmatics Playing A Role In The Linking. Syntactic Structure -- Lexical Representation And Semantic Roles -- Information Structure -- Syntactic Relations And Case Marking -- Linking Syntactic And Semantic Representations In Simple Sentences -- The Structure Of Complex Sentences -- Linking Syntax And Semantics In Complex Sentences. Robert D. Van Valin, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 294-303) And Indexes. While all languages can achieve the same basic communicative ends, they each use different means to achieve them, particularly in the divergent ways that syntax, semantics and pragmatics interact across languages. Written within the framework of Role and Reference Grammar, which proposes a set of rules to link semantic and syntactic relations to each other, this book discusses in detail how structure, meaning, and communicative function interact in human languages. Clearly written and comprehensive, it will be welcomed by all those working on the interface between syntax, semantics and pragmatics. This book looks at how syntax, semantics and pragmatics interact in different ways across human languages. Written within the framework of Role and Reference Grammar, which proposes a set of rules to link semantic and syntactic relations to each other, it discusses topics across the full range of grammatical phenomena