Theta Theory

E326797

Theta Theory is a component of generative syntax that explains how verbs assign thematic roles (like agent or theme) to their arguments within sentence structure.

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Label Occurrences
Theta Theory canonical 1

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf component of generative grammar
linguistic theory
theory of argument structure
appliesTo adjectives
nouns with argument structure
verbs
associatedWith Government and Binding Theory
surface form: Government and Binding framework

Noam Chomsky
assumes each argument bears exactly one theta role
each theta role is assigned to exactly one argument in a clause
basedOn thematic roles such as agent
thematic roles such as experiencer
thematic roles such as goal
thematic roles such as instrument
thematic roles such as source
thematic roles such as theme
concerns distribution of arguments in clause structure
how predicates assign roles to arguments
mapping between semantics and syntax
developedIn 1970s
explains why certain argument structures are grammatical
why certain argument structures are ungrammatical
field syntax
formalizes link between lexical semantics and syntactic realization
influences the analysis of diathesis alternations
the analysis of transitivity
the analysis of valency
originatedIn generative grammar tradition
relatedTo Binding Theory
Case Theory
Government and Binding Theory
Lexical-Functional Grammar
Minimalist Program
Projection Principle
X-bar theory
surface form: X-bar Theory
studies argument structure
thematic roles
theta-role assignment
verb–argument relations
subfieldOf generative syntax
theoretical linguistics
usesConcept argument
external argument
internal argument
obligatory argument
optional argument
subcategorization frame
theta criterion
theta grid
theta role

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.