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Instructor: TRAN THI THO - 0983060410: Tranthitho@dtu - Edu.vn

This document provides a 120-minute lesson on basic syntax notions including propositional content and thematic roles. It aims to provide students knowledge of propositional content and thematic roles. The document defines key terms like proposition, propositional content, thematic roles, and it provides examples of different thematic roles including agent, instrument, theme, experiencer, source, goal, and benefactive. It includes practice questions for students and homework assignments reading additional materials.

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Kim Loan
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242 views35 pages

Instructor: TRAN THI THO - 0983060410: Tranthitho@dtu - Edu.vn

This document provides a 120-minute lesson on basic syntax notions including propositional content and thematic roles. It aims to provide students knowledge of propositional content and thematic roles. The document defines key terms like proposition, propositional content, thematic roles, and it provides examples of different thematic roles including agent, instrument, theme, experiencer, source, goal, and benefactive. It includes practice questions for students and homework assignments reading additional materials.

Uploaded by

Kim Loan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 1

BASIC NOTIONS IN
SYNTAX
Time allotted: 120 minutes
Instructor: TRAN THI THO – [email protected] - 0983060410
CONTENT

(1)Propositional content
(2)Thematic roles
AIMS OF THE LESSON

-PROVIDE STS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF


PROPOSITIONAL CONTENT.
- PROVIDE STS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF
THEMATIC ROLES
 Syntax is…
 the study of phrases, clauses, and
structures
 the study of how words are combined to
produce sentences (not a random string)
 concerned with the rules governing the
ways in which words combine to form
sentences.
Proposition and
propositional content
Propositional content

The propositional content of a sentence


is that sentence’s core meaning.

 Proposition = subject + predicate



- A sentence may contain one or more
propositions
- Verbs, NP, AdjP, PrepP can be core
predicates
- The arguments can be Noun phrases or
clauses
Thematic roles

Thematic roles are the semantic relationships


between the verbs and noun phrases of sentences

  http://www.linguisticsnetwork.c
om
/semantics-thematic-roles/
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

06MpE22sIPI
No verb requires more than three
noun phrases, the number of noun
phrases that a verb requires known
as its valency.
In imperative sentences, it is
possible for a verb to occur without
a required noun phrase.
 Ex: Scram!
Required noun phrase:
argument

*The little boy is standing at the front


door.
argument non-argument
noun phrase
Verb + argument: Propositional
Content
 The sentence “They visit his parents
on Sunday ” has ……………………….
 A. one argument
 B. two arguments
 C. three arguments
 D. four arguments
Thematic Roles: Roles
assigned to noun phrase/
clause
a. Thematic role: Agent ( người
gây ra hành động có chủ đích)- a
mind-possessor who acts,
usually intentionally
 The girl prepared the meal.
 The meal is prepared by the
girl.
b. Thematic role: Instrument
(công cụ để gây ra hành động)-
the thing with which the action is
done
1. The girl used that iron key to
open the drawer. (O)
2. The iron key opened the drawer.
(S)
3. Emily opened the drawer with
that iron key. (Op)
c. Thematic role: Theme (chủ thể của
1 trạng thái diễn đạt bởi V)- Role of
inert entities, which is in a certain
state or position or is changing its
state or position
 The nails were rusting.
 The ball rolled down the slope.
The news would have shocked that
community
 Role assigned to clauses
 The teacher believed that
Emily had the greatest talent.
 Role of entities affected by the action or
process
 Thomas has painted the house.
 The house has just been painted
by Thomas
 affected mind- possessors: term
”patient” is sometimes used instead of
the term “theme”
 A wealthy hunter killed the lion.
 d. Thematic role: Experiencer - Role of
those experiencing a mental state or
process
 (chủ thể của 1 hành động mang tính chất
mental ex: thinking, knowing, believing,
understanding, seeing, hearing, fearing,
hoping, being surprised….)
 The men hope for a promotion.
 His words inspired the young
poet.
 They will see a huge bronze gate
between two pillars.
 e. Thematic role: Source and Goal (nguồn
và đích)
 Source: location from which somebody or
something locates
 Goal: location which serves as the
destination
 They live in London
 (source). They left for Oxford
 (goal).
The government took over a billion
 dollars from the poor (source).
Marley changed from a heartless
 They live in London
(source).
f. Thematic Role: Benefactive –
( nhân tố hưởng lợi từ hành động)
Role of individual for whose
benefit some action is done.
He bought his son a new
bicycle.
He bought a new bicycle for his
son.
g. Thematic Role for Non-argument
Noun Phrases: Location -Time
He waited for them on the
mountain. (location)
The doctor’s car was a Mercedes.
(location)

 We have been studying English for
3 years. (time)

 Last year they came to see their


grand parents in the countryside. (time)
 In terms of thematic roles, me in
the sentence
 My father bought me a nice gift
is:
 A. an experiencer
 B. a benefactive
 C. a theme
 D. an agent
Homework

 Read:
 (1) English syntax, 2+3
 (2) University Grammar of English: 7.9 –
7.19
Next meeting:

 Read:
 (1) University Grammar of English, parts
2.12 – 2.15; 4, 5, 6, 12, 13
 (2) Contemporary Linguistics, pages 159
– 163
 (3) English syntax, parts 3 + 20

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