Difference between revisions of "Agent"
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| − | + | '''Agent''' is a generalized [[semantic role|semantic]] or [[thematic role]]. The agent of an event is the entity that brings about an event and has control over it. | |
| − | + | The Agent role has a 'privileged' status in many languages. In accusative languages, it is typically encoded as a [[subject]] (in the nominative case); in ergative languages, it is associated with a special case, the [[ergative]]. Irrespective of the [[alignment]] system of a language, the Agent role is plays a crucial role in various syntactic constructions, e.g. specific types of [[control]] structures and [[imperative]]s. | |
| − | |||
| − | Agent is a | ||
=== Example === | === Example === | ||
| − | + | In the following examples ''Miguel'' is the Agent: | |
| − | + | # Miguel chased Gianni. | |
| − | + | # Miguel gave Pedro some water. | |
| − | + | # Pedro was hit by Miguel. (passive voice) | |
=== Link === | === Link === | ||
| Line 18: | Line 16: | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
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* Grimshaw, J. 1990. ''Argument Structure,'' MIT-press, Cambridge, Mass. | * Grimshaw, J. 1990. ''Argument Structure,'' MIT-press, Cambridge, Mass. | ||
* Gruber, J. 1965. ''Studies in lexical relations,'' doctoral dissertation, MIT | * Gruber, J. 1965. ''Studies in lexical relations,'' doctoral dissertation, MIT | ||
Revision as of 12:25, 14 June 2009
Agent is a generalized semantic or thematic role. The agent of an event is the entity that brings about an event and has control over it.
The Agent role has a 'privileged' status in many languages. In accusative languages, it is typically encoded as a subject (in the nominative case); in ergative languages, it is associated with a special case, the ergative. Irrespective of the alignment system of a language, the Agent role is plays a crucial role in various syntactic constructions, e.g. specific types of control structures and imperatives.
Example
In the following examples Miguel is the Agent:
- Miguel chased Gianni.
- Miguel gave Pedro some water.
- Pedro was hit by Miguel. (passive voice)
Link
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics
References
- Grimshaw, J. 1990. Argument Structure, MIT-press, Cambridge, Mass.
- Gruber, J. 1965. Studies in lexical relations, doctoral dissertation, MIT
- Jackendoff, R. 1990. Semantic Structures, Cambridge, MIT-Press.
- Jackendoff, R. 1972. Semantic interpretation in generative grammar, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
