The Lexicon-Syntax Parameter: Reflexivization and Other Arity Operations

Abstract

We argue that crosslinguistic variation regarding verbal reflexivization is parametric, reflecting a broader lexicon-syntax parameter: arity operations—operations on θ-roles, which affect the valence of a predicate—can apply in the lexicon or in the syntax. The significant empirical coverage of this parameter supports the view that the lexicon must be an active component of the grammar. The discussion focuses mainly on the formation of reflexive verbs. We argue that the prevailing view that reflexive verbs have an unaccusative derivation cannot be maintained. Rather, the reflexivization operation bundles a θ-role with an external θ-role, forming a combination that must merge externally. Next, we also briefly review other arity operations: (a) reciprocalization, (b) decausativization, and (c) saturation, which is involved in the formation of passives, middles, and impersonals. Variation in auxiliary selection, owing to the application of reflexivization or other arity operations, is independent of the lexicon-syntax parameter and follows under our approach from a structural accusative Case parameter.

As we fall asleep we forget about the future: A quantitative linguistic analysis of mentation reports from hypnagogia

“…In brief, the linguistic tool developed for the quantitative analysis is partly grammatical and partly cognitivesemantic. The grammatical part of the tool is based on linguistic theta theory (Gruber, 2001;Reinhart, 2002;Reinhart & Siloni, 2005) and measures linguistic references to cognitive agency, i.e. grammatical agencies connected to the semantic field of cognition, describing cognitive acts such as thinking, remembering, or planning.…”

Transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex in waking resting state induces motor imagery

“…The linguistic tool used for the rating is based on linguistic theta theory (Gruber, 2001, Reinhart, 2002and Reinhart and Siloni, 2005. A first version of the tool has been used successfully to link degrees of linguistic references to motor imagery in mentation reports with characteristic motor cortical activation of states of consciousness (Speth et al, 2013).…”

How many theta roles in a reflexive verb?

“…It is technically very easy to associate two theta roles with the same argument (although this is prohibited by some versions of the theta criterion). Following Reinhart & Siloni (2005), we call this bundling, and will discuss it in section 3.2.…”

“…Marelj 2004, 44-55 for discussion), but in any case the problem is technically easy to bypass in the context of reflexivization, since both theta roles reside in the same lexical verb. Bundling (Reinhart & Siloni 2005;Dimitriadis 2004;2012) is an arity operation that combines two theta roles into a single, complex one. Reinhart & Siloni (2005), who adopted bundling in place of reduction as the arity operation behind reflexivization, summarize it as follows:…”

“…This discrepancy can be explained by making use (for verbal reflexives only) of the notion of (theta) bundling (Reinhart & Siloni 2005;Dimitriadis 2004), the combination of two semantic roles into a single complex role. This allows the bundled roles to be assigned to a single syntactic argument.…”