Cover not available
Part of
Conceptual Semantics: A micro-modular approach
Urpo Nikanne
[Constructional Approaches to Language 23] 2018
► pp. 37–81

Chapter 3
Argument structure and its ingredients

F-chain, argument level, thematic features, and action tier

In this chapter we will discuss the core set of micro-modules that are involved in the semantics of the conceptual category Situation. The modules f-chain, argument level, thematic features, and action tier are tightly related to each other: argument level and thematic features must be linked to the f-chain, and the action tier must be linked to the argument level. This means that the modules are not equal: the f-chain is the core of this part of the micro-modular network. We go through the formation of and mutual relationships between the micro-modules discussed in this chapter.
Article outline
  • 3.1Introduction
  • 3.2From constituency to dependency and from large representations to micro-representations
    • Conceptual structure (Jackendoff 1983)
    • The motivation behind the Tiernet model of the information in conceptual structure
  • 3.3F-chain
    • Zones
  • 3.4Thematic features (th-features)
    • 3.4.1Hierarchical organization of thematic features
    • 3.4.2Feature sharing and M-units
    • 3.4.3Some words on the feature [M]
    • 3.4.4Some words on the functions that do not carry the feature [M]
    • 3.4.5The feature [DIM] as interface to spatial understanding
    • 3.4.6Summary of zones, features, and thematic roles
    • 3.4.7Comparison of the feature hierarchies to the formalism in Jackendoff (1990)
  • 3.5Argument level
  • 3.6Action tier
    • 3.6.1Action tier formation
    • 3.6.2Functions AC and UN
    • 3.6.3A word on the action tier and linking
    • 3.6.4Undergoer as beneficiary or malefacive: Linguistic meaning and contextual meaning
  • 3.7Summary