Argument structure alternations

Definition

Argument structure alternations refer to the variations in the way verbs can organize their arguments, which are the noun phrases that represent participants in the action. These alternations show how the same verb can lead to different syntactic constructions while still retaining similar meanings, highlighting flexibility in language use and grammar. Understanding these variations helps explain how different languages can express similar ideas in diverse ways, revealing deeper insights into syntax and semantics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Argument structure alternations can change the role of noun phrases, such as how they function as subjects or objects in different constructions.
2. Common types of argument structure alternations include active/passive constructions and dative alternations, showcasing how verbs can flexibly arrange their arguments.
3. These alternations are not random; they often reflect semantic nuances, indicating different perspectives on the action being described.
4. Understanding argument structure alternations is crucial for analyzing sentence variation across different languages and dialects.
5. Some languages exhibit more frequent argument structure alternations than others, impacting their overall syntactic complexity and flexibility.

Review Questions

• How do argument structure alternations impact sentence meaning and grammatical organization?
  • Argument structure alternations significantly influence both the meaning and grammatical organization of sentences by allowing verbs to rearrange their arguments. For instance, a verb like 'give' can appear in both active ('She gave him a book') and passive ('A book was given to him') forms, altering focus and highlighting different aspects of the action. These variations can lead to subtle shifts in interpretation, demonstrating how language can convey diverse perspectives using flexible structures.
• Discuss the role of transitivity in understanding argument structure alternations and give an example.
  • Transitivity plays a critical role in understanding argument structure alternations as it defines how many arguments a verb can take and their syntactic relationships. For example, the verb 'eat' is typically transitive ('He eats an apple'), but it can also appear in an intransitive form ('He eats'). This change showcases an argument structure alteration where the presence or absence of a direct object modifies the verb's construction while still retaining its core meaning.
• Evaluate the significance of passive voice in the context of argument structure alternations and its effect on focus within sentences.
  • The significance of passive voice within argument structure alternations lies in its ability to shift focus from the subject performing the action to the recipient of that action. By converting an active sentence like 'The chef cooked dinner' into 'Dinner was cooked by the chef', the emphasis moves away from who performed the action to what was affected by it. This structural change not only alters how information is presented but also allows speakers to manipulate attention and clarity in communication.

Related terms

Transitivity: Transitivity refers to the number of arguments a verb can take, specifically whether it requires a direct object (transitive), allows for an indirect object (ditransitive), or takes no objects at all (intransitive).

Dative Alternation: Dative alternation is a specific type of argument structure alternation where a verb can take an indirect object either as a prepositional phrase or as a direct object with a dative marker, affecting sentence construction.

Passive Voice: Passive voice is a grammatical construction that allows for the subject of the sentence to receive the action instead of performing it, often leading to a shift in focus and can involve an argument structure alternation.