The world-famous grammarian Charles J. Fillmore is emeritus professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. First and foremost he became known for his works on semantics and syntax. One of his well-known works is The Case for Case, published in the year 1968, in which he introduces the case grammar theory.
Fillmore himself modified this paper several times, inter alia in a publication in the year 1971, and many other linguists since then have worked on his approach. The case grammar has gone through many changes until today, however this assignment concentrates on the original 1968-paper, the basic work concerning the case grammar theory. Below the main aspects of Fillmore's approach are introduced and explained.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. 'Deep structure' vs. 'surface structure'
- 3. The different 'deep cases'
- 4. Case frames for verbs
- 5. The categorization of nouns
- 6. The subject selection rule
- 7. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to introduce and explain the main aspects of Charles J. Fillmore's case grammar theory, focusing on his original 1968 paper, "The Case for Case." It explores the core concepts of the theory and provides a detailed analysis of its key components.
- The distinction between deep structure and surface structure in linguistic analysis.
- Fillmore's system of deep cases and their semantic roles within sentences.
- The application of case grammar to the analysis of verb structures and sentence construction.
- The universal nature of Fillmore's case system and its implications for cross-linguistic comparisons.
- The role of case markers in representing grammatical relations.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter provides background information on Charles J. Fillmore, his contributions to linguistics, and the focus of the paper: an analysis of Fillmore's seminal work, "The Case for Case" (1968), specifically his case grammar theory. The chapter establishes the historical context of the theory, highlighting its evolution and influence on subsequent linguistic research. It also outlines the scope of the analysis presented in the following chapters.
2. 'Deep structure' vs. 'surface structure': This chapter delves into the fundamental distinction between deep structure and surface structure, crucial for understanding Fillmore's case grammar. It explains Chomsky's influence on these concepts, tracing their historical roots back to the work of Panini and Humboldt. The chapter elaborates on Fillmore's conceptualization of deep structure, as a tenseless proposition comprising verbs and nouns with specific grammatical relations, contrasting it with the surface structure that results from transformations. The chapter illustrates this distinction through rules and examples, clarifying the theoretical framework of Fillmore's approach.
3. The different 'deep cases': This chapter focuses on Fillmore's system of 'deep cases,' explaining their semantic roles within a sentence. Fillmore's definition of deep cases as universal, innate concepts reflecting judgments about events is explored. The chapter introduces Fillmore's six primary cases—Agentive, Instrumental, Dative, Factitive, Locative, and Objective—providing detailed definitions and illustrative examples. The chapter discusses the criteria for establishing a minimal yet comprehensive case system, emphasizing its universal applicability across languages, acknowledging the possibility of additional cases.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Case grammar, deep structure, surface structure, Charles Fillmore, semantic roles, grammatical relations, case markers, Agentive, Instrumental, Dative, Factitive, Locative, Objective.
FAQ: A Comprehensive Overview of Charles J. Fillmore's Case Grammar
What is this document about?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a paper analyzing Charles J. Fillmore's case grammar theory, specifically his 1968 paper "The Case for Case." It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The focus is on explaining the core concepts of Fillmore's theory and providing a detailed analysis of its components.
What are the main objectives and key themes explored?
The main objectives are to introduce and explain the core aspects of Fillmore's case grammar. Key themes include the distinction between deep and surface structure, Fillmore's system of deep cases and their semantic roles, the application of case grammar to verb structures and sentence construction, the universality of Fillmore's case system, and the role of case markers in representing grammatical relations.
What is the distinction between "deep structure" and "surface structure" in the context of this document?
The document emphasizes the fundamental difference between deep structure (a tenseless proposition representing the core meaning of a sentence) and surface structure (the actual form of the sentence after transformations). This distinction is crucial to understanding Fillmore's approach, which focuses on the underlying semantic relationships expressed in the deep structure.
What are Fillmore's "deep cases," and what are the examples provided?
Fillmore's deep cases represent semantic roles within a sentence. The document details six primary cases: Agentive (the actor), Instrumental (the instrument used), Dative (the recipient), Factitive (the result), Locative (the location), and Objective (the undergoer). The document provides examples to illustrate each case.
What is the significance of Fillmore's case system's universal nature?
The document highlights the universality of Fillmore's case system, suggesting its applicability across different languages. This implies that the semantic roles represented by the cases are common to all languages, despite surface-level differences in grammatical expression.
How does the document summarize each chapter?
The document provides concise summaries of each chapter. Chapter 1 introduces Fillmore and his work. Chapter 2 explains the deep structure vs. surface structure distinction. Chapter 3 focuses on Fillmore's system of deep cases. The document indicates the presence of further chapters (4, 5, 6, and 7) but doesn't provide summaries for them in this preview.
What are the key terms or keywords related to this topic?
Key terms include: Case grammar, deep structure, surface structure, Charles Fillmore, semantic roles, grammatical relations, case markers, Agentive, Instrumental, Dative, Factitive, Locative, and Objective.
What is the overall purpose of this preview document?
The purpose is to provide a comprehensive and structured overview of the main ideas and arguments presented in a longer work on Fillmore's case grammar. It serves as an introduction and a guide to the key concepts discussed in the full paper.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Samir Mazarweh (Autor:in), 2009, Fillmore Case Grammar, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163024
