Essential Semantic Roles to Know for Intro to Semantics and Pragmatics

Semantic roles help us understand how different entities interact in sentences. They clarify who does what, who is affected, and the context of actions, making it easier to analyze meaning in language and communication.

1. Agent

   • The entity that performs an action or initiates a change.
   • Typically a noun or noun phrase that represents a person or animate being.
   • Often marked by verbs in active voice, indicating who is responsible for the action.

2. Patient

   • The entity that undergoes an action or is affected by it.
   • Can be animate (like a person) or inanimate (like an object).
   • Often marked by verbs in passive voice, highlighting the entity that experiences the action.

3. Theme

   • The entity that is being discussed or described in relation to an action.
   • Can be the subject or object of a sentence, representing what is being moved or affected.
   • Often interchangeable with the Patient, but focuses more on the entity's role in the context.

4. Experiencer

   • The entity that perceives or experiences a sensory or emotional state.
   • Typically a person or sentient being that has feelings or thoughts.
   • Often marked by verbs that express mental states, such as "know," "like," or "see."

5. Recipient

   • The entity that receives something, often a physical object or information.
   • Usually a person or animate being that is the target of a transfer.
   • Commonly found in sentences involving giving, sending, or transferring actions.

6. Beneficiary

   • The entity that benefits from an action, even if not directly involved.
   • Can be a person or group that receives an advantage or gain.
   • Often marked in sentences where the action is performed for someone else's benefit.

7. Instrument

   • The means or tool used to perform an action.
   • Can be a physical object or abstract concept that facilitates the action.
   • Typically marked by prepositions like "with" or "by," indicating how the action is carried out.

8. Location

   • The place where an action occurs or where an entity is situated.
   • Can refer to physical spaces or abstract contexts.
   • Often marked by prepositions such as "in," "at," or "on," providing spatial context.

9. Goal

   • The endpoint or target of an action, indicating where something is directed.
   • Can be a physical location or an abstract outcome.
   • Often marked by prepositions like "to" or "toward," showing the direction of the action.

10. Source

    • The origin or starting point of an action or movement.
    • Can refer to a physical location or the entity from which something comes.
    • Often marked by prepositions such as "from" or "out of," indicating the beginning of a transfer or change.