The aim of this work on semantic roles is supposed to reveal that the English language needs another approach to describe the relations between entities, which are the predicate and the specific argument in sentences.
This work is opened by an introduction, which is followed by a research report. In the report, a concise overview about the history of semantic roles and the development of this field of research is illustrated. Starting in the sixties of the last century, the most significant names, like Fillmore and Gruber, and their contributions are mentioned to depict the survey. Furthermore, the work is composed of a twofold perspective on case systems. The first one considers the German case system with some of its characteristics that are relevant for this topic. The other one is supposed to delineate features and properties of the English cases, which can be transferred to this issue on semantic roles. This approach allows a more detailed and structured view and therefore supports the understanding of how the English language is in need of a different description for its sentence inherent structures and relations. The author ends with a conclusion.
The issue of semantic roles is a very significant one with regard to the English language. It has been established in the sixties of the nineteenth century as a counter approach to the predominant subject of syntax. As the case system in English has decreased over time, semantic roles are able to express relations within the sentence, which grammar cannot grasp.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Research report
- The case systems
- The German case system
- The English case system
- Why semantic roles are necessary in English
Objectives and Key Themes
This seminar paper aims to demonstrate the necessity of a semantic role approach for describing inherent relationships within English sentences. The paper argues that due to the decline of the English case system, grammar alone is insufficient to capture these relationships. The paper achieves this by reviewing the history of semantic role research, comparing the German and English case systems, and ultimately arguing for the importance of semantic roles in understanding English sentence structure.
- The history and development of semantic role theory
- A comparison of the German and English case systems
- The limitations of traditional grammar in capturing sentence relationships in English
- The role of semantic roles in clarifying sentence meaning
- The contributions of key figures like Fillmore, Katz, Fodor, and Gruber to the field
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction establishes the central argument: the English language requires a semantic role approach to fully describe the relationships within its sentences. It highlights the historical context of semantic roles as an alternative to syntax-focused approaches, particularly in light of the diminished case system in English. The paper's structure and its reliance on key works by Fillmore, Katz, and Fodor are also outlined.
Research report: This chapter provides a concise history of semantic role theory, tracing its development from the 1960s. It discusses the contributions of significant figures like Fillmore and his Case Grammar, which offered an alternative to Chomsky's Generative Grammar by emphasizing semantic considerations. The chapter also touches upon the works of Katz and Fodor, who similarly challenged the limitations of a purely syntactic approach, highlighting the importance of connecting surface structure with meaning. The ongoing debate regarding the number and classification of semantic roles is also mentioned, referencing the evolution of Fillmore's own classifications.
The case systems: This chapter offers a comparative analysis of the German and English case systems. By examining the features of the German system, the chapter highlights the significant differences with the English case system, which has considerably diminished over time. This comparison underscores the insufficiency of relying solely on grammatical case to describe the semantic relationships between words in English sentences, furthering the argument for the necessity of semantic roles.
Why semantic roles are necessary in English: This chapter builds upon the previous sections to directly address the central thesis. It synthesizes the historical overview of semantic role theory and the comparative analysis of case systems to show how the decline of grammatical case in English creates a need for an alternative system – semantic roles – to effectively represent the relationships between verbs and their arguments within sentences. The chapter would likely draw heavily on Fillmore's Case Grammar to illustrate this point, demonstrating how semantic roles provide a more comprehensive and accurate representation of sentence structure and meaning than traditional grammatical analysis alone.
Keywords
Semantic roles, theta roles, thematic roles, Case Grammar, Fillmore, Chomsky, Generative Grammar, English case system, German case system, syntax, semantics, surface structure, deep structure, Katz and Fodor, Gruber.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This seminar paper argues for the necessity of a semantic role approach to understand English sentence structure, particularly because of the decline of the English case system. It contends that traditional grammar alone is insufficient to capture the inherent relationships within English sentences.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the history and development of semantic role theory, comparing the German and English case systems to highlight the limitations of relying solely on grammatical case in English. It emphasizes the role of semantic roles in clarifying sentence meaning and discusses the contributions of key figures like Fillmore, Katz, Fodor, and Gruber.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four main sections: an introduction outlining the central argument; a research report detailing the history of semantic role theory; a comparison of the German and English case systems; and a concluding section arguing for the necessity of semantic roles in English.
What is the significance of the comparison between German and English case systems?
The comparison highlights the significant differences between the robust German case system and the diminished English case system. This difference underscores the inadequacy of relying solely on grammatical case to represent semantic relationships in English sentences, thus supporting the need for semantic roles.
Who are some of the key figures mentioned in the paper and what are their contributions?
The paper mentions Charles Fillmore (and his Case Grammar), Jerry Fodor, Jerrold Katz, and Jeffrey Gruber. These figures are significant because their work challenged the limitations of purely syntactic approaches to language, emphasizing the importance of semantics and the connection between surface structure and meaning.
What are semantic roles, and why are they important in English?
Semantic roles (also called theta roles or thematic roles) describe the roles that different parts of a sentence play in the action or state described by the verb. In English, where the case system is reduced, semantic roles provide a crucial framework for understanding the relationships between words and the overall meaning of a sentence.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The introduction establishes the central argument. The research report provides a historical overview of semantic role theory. The case systems chapter provides a comparative analysis of German and English case systems highlighting the decline of case in English. The final chapter synthesizes the previous sections to directly support the central thesis that semantic roles are necessary for a complete understanding of English sentences.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Key words include: Semantic roles, theta roles, thematic roles, Case Grammar, Fillmore, Chomsky, Generative Grammar, English case system, German case system, syntax, semantics, surface structure, deep structure, Katz and Fodor, Gruber.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2016, Semantic roles in the English language. Why the English language needs the semantic roles approach to describe its sentence inherent relationships, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/494116
