Theta Theory / / Martin Haiden.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter DGBA Backlist Complete English Language 2000-2014 PART1
• VerfasserIn: Haiden, Martin,
• Place / Publishing House: Berlin ;, Boston : : De Gruyter Mouton, , [2008]; ©2005
• Year of Publication: 2008
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in Generative Grammar [SGG] , 78
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (294 p.)
• Other title: Frontmatter --; Contents --; Chapter 1. From lexical semantics to cognitive --; psychology, and back again --; Chapter 2. German verbs: lexical representation and --; argument realization --; Chapter 3. A Bare Phrase Structure of Argument --; Expression --; Chapter 4. Applications and extensions: participial --; and infinitival constructions --; Backmatter
• Format: Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
• ISBN: 9783110197471; 9783110238570; 9783110238457; 9783110636970; 9783110742961; 9783110212129; 9783110212136; 9783110209457
• ISSN: 0167-4331
• DOI: 10.1515/9783110197471
• Access: restricted access
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: Martin Haiden.

Theta Theory explores the lexicon as an interface in the strict sense, as facilitating the flow of information between cognition and the computational system of language. It argues for the traditional concept of a listed lexicon, where semantic roles are encoded as features of verbs, and against event decomposition. Part one of the book discusses the link between cognition and the lexicon. Mainstream theories of lexical semantics are critically reviewed. Furthermore, this part provides an extensive description of the relevant data in German, including agentivity, causation, psychological predicates, and different types of diathesis alternations. Part two is devoted to the link between the lexicon and syntax. It develops a parallel model of grammatical derivation, which allows the formulation of robust generalizations over thematic role assignment, but at the same time acknowledges the relevance of other components, in particular morpho-phonology and narrow syntax. The theory is applied to a wide range of German constructions including modal infinitives, the present and gerundive participle, the past/passive/adjectival participle, verbal particles, auxiliary selection, and unaccusatives/reflexives. The book is of interest for students and scholars of lexical semantics, for descriptive German linguistics, and for linguists concerned with the development of the Minimalist Program.