LINGUIST List 17.2508
Thu Sep 07 2006
Diss: Semantics/Syntax: Yalcin: 'The Analysis of Correlations betwe...'
Editor for this issue: Hannah Morales
<hannahlinguistlist.org>
Directory
1. Nafi
Yalcin,
The Analysis of Correlations between Thematic Roles and Syntactic Relations in Turkish Sentences
Message 1: The Analysis of Correlations between Thematic Roles and Syntactic Relations in Turkish Sentences
Date: 07-Sep-2006
From: Nafi Yalcin <nafiyalcinyahoo.com>
Subject: The Analysis of Correlations between Thematic Roles and Syntactic Relations in Turkish Sentences
Institution: Hacettepe University
Program: Department of English Linguistics
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2002
Author: Nafi Yalcin
Dissertation Title: The Analysis of Correlations between Thematic Roles and Syntactic Relations in Turkish Sentences
Linguistic Field(s):
Semantics
Syntax
Subject Language(s): Turkish (tur)
Dissertation Director:
Zülal Balpinar
Ahmet Kocaman
Güray König
Oya Külebi
Dissertation Abstract:
Considering the developments concerning semantic and syntactic approacheswithin the framework of Generative Grammar we have intended, in this study,to analyze the thematic and syntactic structures of sentences in Turkish,and to find out the principles underlying the correspondence between thetwo domains, and then to observe how the findings can shed light on certainaspects of Turkish Grammar more satisfactorily.
The first chapter provides theoretical bases and developments of Casegrammar models gained wide popularity. They are briefly presented withregard to their logical structures, list of cases, case tactics,derivational systems, and use of covert case roles.
The second chapter introduces in detail, Chafe's and Fillmore's approachesto the study of language in generative semantics. The central position ofverb in determining the argument structure, the derivational system linkingtogether various verb types, the organization of a set of cases into caseframes for verbs of a particular language are Chafe's ideas thatcontributed considerably to the realization of this study. Fillmore's caseroles, Stative Location, Source and Goal have been adopted as variations ofLocation in complementary distribution. The grammatical terms to be usedthroughout the thesis are also defined in this chapter.
In the third chapter, simplex Turkish verbs that have not undergone anygrammatical transformation are analyzed in detail and are classified intodistinct sixteen verb categories. A number of verbs belonging to eachcategory are analyzed in terms of the thematic roles and grammaticalrelations undertaken by the noun phrases required by these verbs. Thenpossible correlations between thematic roles and grammatical relationscooccuring with each verb category are determined. These correlations areconsidered to provide us with a substantial comprehension of the behaviorsof arguments during voice alterations and verb derivations.
In the fourth chapter, Turkish verb categories are investigated in terms of morphological, semantic and syntactic aspects and behaviors of arguments,as they go through voice alterations. The impact of voice transformationson the encoding of thematic roles and grammatical relations are studied andcertain generalizations concerning the changes in valency and argumentstructure of Turkish verbs; productivity of and constraints on voiceconstructions; making distinction between voice types are worked out.
In the fifth chapter it is argued that the distribution of thematic rolesto grammatical relations works within a certain hierarchical order. It isalso claimed that the suffixation process of voice constructions often endup with ambiguities which can be clarified by the parameters and measuresrendered by "the correlational approach to thematic roles and syntacticrelations" elaborated in this study. Consequently, by means of varioussemantic and syntactic devices provided here, it seems possible to make aclear distinction between passive and impersonal constructions; passive andreflexive voices; reciprocal and cooperative structures.
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