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Thematic Dependency and Semantic Interpretation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

William O’Grady*
Affiliation:
University of Calgary

Extract

This paper is concerned with the formulation of a constraint on the set of NPs which can serve as “antecedent” for PRO and floated quantifiers. I will begin by showing that a principle formulated in terms of c-command encounters problems distinguishing between two classes of NPs occurring within PPs. I will then propose that a more comprehensive and successful constraint can be formulated in terms of thematic dependency, a relation holding between an NP and the lexical category which determines its thematic role.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 1985

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