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.
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
Objectives and Research Focus
The primary objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive summary and explanation of Charles J. Fillmore's 1968 case grammar theory. It aims to clarify the fundamental concepts of deep and surface structures, the categorization of verbs and nouns through case frames, and the mechanics of the subject selection rule as established in Fillmore's seminal paper.
- Theoretical differentiation between deep and surface structures
- Identification and definition of the six basic deep cases (Agentive, Instrumental, Dative, Factitive, Locative, Objective)
- Analysis of verb classification through case frames
- Explanation of semantic feature marking for nouns
- Application of the subject selection rule in sentence construction
Excerpt from the Book
3. The different `deep cases´
`Deep cases´ are structural slots that are provided by a verb in a sentence. These slots have specific semantic roles in the sentence. (Polzenhagen 2008: 51)
Fillmore defines the notion of `deep case´ as follows:
(...) a set of universal, presumably innate, concepts which identify certain types of judgments human beings are capable of making about the events that are going on around them, judgments about such matters as who did it, who it happened to, and what got changed. (Fillmore 1968: 24)
The case system should consist of the smallest possible number of cases that are satisfactory for the classification of all verbs of a language. Furthermore the case system should have universal character, meaning that it is applicable in every language. (Cook 1989: 8)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces Charles J. Fillmore as a foundational linguist and establishes the scope of the paper, which focuses on his original 1968 theory of case grammar.
2. `Deep structure´ vs. `surface structure´: This section explains the distinction between deep and surface structures, highlighting the proposition-modality split and the rules for transforming deep structures into surface representations.
3. The different `deep cases´: This chapter defines the six core deep cases—Agentive, Instrumental, Dative, Factitive, Locative, and Objective—providing examples and typical prepositions for each.
4. `Case frames´ for verbs: This section details how verbs are inserted into specific case frames to describe propositional content, forming the basis of a mental lexicon.
5. The categorization of nouns: This chapter explores how nouns are marked with semantic features like [+animate] or [+locative] to ensure compatibility with specific case requirements.
6. The subject selection rule: This section explains how the syntactic subject is determined based on a hierarchy of deep cases (Agentive < Instrumental < Objective).
7. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the significance of Fillmore's 1968 model as a vital foundation for subsequent developments in linguistics by authors like Dik and Jackendoff.
Keywords
Case Grammar, Deep Structure, Surface Structure, Agentive, Instrumental, Dative, Factitive, Locative, Objective, Verb Classification, Case Frames, Subject Selection Rule, Semantics, Syntax, Charles J. Fillmore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper provides an introductory analysis of Charles J. Fillmore's 1968 theory of case grammar, focusing on how semantic roles influence sentence structure.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work covers the structural levels of language, the semantic categorization of deep cases, the function of verb-based case frames, and rules for syntactic subject determination.
What is the main research goal?
The research aims to explain the basic mechanisms of Fillmore's original case grammar to provide a starting point for understanding more complex, later linguistic models.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a literature-based theoretical analysis, primarily utilizing Fillmore's 1968 publication and secondary linguistic commentaries (e.g., Cook, Polzenhagen) to interpret the model.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the division between proposition and modality, defines the six specific deep cases, demonstrates how verbs are classified into case frames, and explains how nouns receive semantic feature markers.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Case Grammar, Deep Structure, Surface Structure, Case Frames, and the specific semantic roles like Agentive and Objective.
How does Fillmore define the 'deep case'?
Fillmore defines it as a set of universal, presumably innate concepts that allow humans to judge events, such as identifying the actor of an action or the entity affected by a change.
What is the hierarchy for the subject selection rule?
The hierarchy follows the order: Agentive < Instrumental < Objective, meaning the presence of an Agentive case takes precedence in determining the syntactic subject of a sentence.
What is the purpose of the 'case frame' for verbs?
The case frame serves as a template or slot array that determines which noun cases can accompany a specific verb, thereby categorizing the verb within a mental lexicon.
Why is the 1968 model considered a foundation?
While the model has evolved over 40 years, it introduced the essential concept of classifying verbs based on case combinations and established a cross-linguistic validity that remains relevant for modern linguistic theory.
- Quote paper
- Samir Mazarweh (Author), 2009, Fillmore Case Grammar, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/163024
