Language Typology and Syntactic Description, Volume I: Clause Structure, Second edition
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Lgg Typology, Synt Description v. I - Clause structure
2.3
Oblique functions In this section we examine oblique grammatical functions. We will first inves- tigate English, showing that English obliques fall into two main classes: argu- ments and adjuncts. The distribution of arguments is governed by potentially idiosyncratic specifications on verbs (or other predicates). Adjuncts on the other hand appear whenever they would be semantically appropriate. In fact, we shall see that it is reasonable to think of the argument/adjunct distinction as overlap- ping the core/oblique distinction, with all core nps and some obliques being included in the class of arguments. Adjuncts, on the other hand, always seem to be oblique, in that they do not seem to exhibit behavioural similarities to a, s and p. Then we will look at obliques in Warlpiri, to illustrate something of the behaviour of obliques in a case-marking language. Finally we will briefly sum- marize the dimensions of typological variation in systems of oblique grammat- ical functions. 2.3.1 Obliques ( p p s) in English English oblique nps are usually expressed within prepositional phrases (pps), except for certain time expressions, where a preposition does not have to be expressed: Mary left the next day. English pps are not homogeneous but seem to fall into classes, which can be defined in terms of the way in which their form and distribution is or is not determined by the verb. As stated above, the two principal classes are what we shall call ‘arguments’ and ‘adjuncts’. The distribution of adjuncts is not subject to idiosyncratic restrictions imposed by the predicate, but only to the requirement that the sentence make sense. The circumstantial roles of section 1.1.2 are often introduced by adjuncts. Thus in English, any verb which is semantically suitable may take a locative 158 Avery D. Andrews phrase, or a benefactive phrase with the preposition for. For example, the reason that example (34b) is odd is not because of some syntactic restriction on adjuncts expressing reasons, but rather because tree branches don’t have minds, and therefore lack motives for doing things: 10 (34) a. John prodded the snake for fun. b. # The branch fell off the tree for fun. In contrast, the distribution of arguments is subject to idiosyncratic restrictions imposed by verbs. To see the nature of these restrictions, let us examine the nature of the constructions associated with verbs of giving, such as give, hand, present, etc., in which an agent transfers a theme from his/her own custody to that of a recipient. Such verbs take six patterns of association between their semantic roles and the grammatical relations that express them, as illustrated below. The patterns in (a) and (b) are the major ones, (c) is minor, and (d–f) are extremely minor: (35) a. Susan handed Paul the shovel b. Susan handed the shovel to Paul c. They supply us with weapons d. Cheech laid a joint on Chong e. Geraldine foisted six kittens off on(to) Jock f. J. R. bestowed many favors (up)on Afton Examples (35b–f) illustrate various oblique constructions, while (35a), with two bare nps after the verb, illustrates something we haven’t discussed yet, a ‘double object’ or ‘ditransitive’ construction. In section 3.2.1 below we will argue that the first postverbal np is a ‘primary object’ bearing the same grammatical relation as the sole object of a transitive verb, while the second bears another core grammatical relation, ‘secondary object’. See section 2.3 of chapter 4 by Dryer, for further discussion of ditransitives. There is considerable systematicity in the relations between semantic roles and their overt expressions in (35). In the double-object and with constructions, recipients are the first or sole objects. Otherwise they are the objects of goal prepositions such as to, on, into and onto (the latter three sometimes being optional alternants). Themes, on the other hand, are primary objects (35b, d, e and f), second objects (35a), or objects of with (35c). But there is also considerable idiosyncrasy. Hand, and a great many other verbs, appear in patterns (a) and (b), but not the others. Supply appears with (c) and (b), and maybe (a) for some speakers, but not with (d–f ). Equip, on the other hand, appears only in (c). None of the verbs taking any of (a–c) take 10 The ‘#’ mark in front of the (b) example indicates that the example is semantically bizarre, but not ungrammatical. The major functions of the noun phrase 159 any of (d–e), except fob off, which takes (c) and (d), with substantially different meanings: Fred fobbed Jack off with a scratched CD vs Fred fobbed a scratched Download 1.59 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
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