rapaport@sunybcs.UUCP (11/19/87)
UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
The Steering Committee of the
GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH INITIATIVE IN
COGNITIVE AND LINGUISTIC SCIENCES
PRESENTS
GREG N. CARLSON
Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
University of Rochester
THE STATUS OF THEMATIC ROLES
Thematic roles and similarly conceived entities have played a major part
in the development of theories of generative grammar. Yet, there is
considerable doubt on a number of questions surrounding them, not the
least of which is their standing in linguistic theory. I will argue
that they should not be viewed as elements of a linguistic theory except
in a derivative sense. Rather, thematic roles should be construed as
semantic or conceptual elements which help structure the domain of
interpretation. More specifically, thematic roles provide one of the
means by which events are individuated. I present a view in which this
organization serves to constrain verb meanings.
Tuesday, December 1, 1987
3:30 P.M.
Knox 4, Amherst Campus
There will also be an informal evening discussion at a time and place to
be announced. Call Bill Rapaport (Dept. of Computer Science, 636-3193
or 3181) for further information.