Arguments

Definition

In semantics, arguments refer to the elements that are required by a predicate to complete its meaning. They establish relationships between predicates and their associated entities, making them essential for understanding how meaning is constructed in sentences. The arrangement and number of arguments play a critical role in the predicate-argument structure, which outlines how verbs relate to their subjects and objects. Arguments can be classified as either core arguments, which are directly linked to the verb, or adjuncts, which provide additional, but non-essential, information.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Arguments can vary in number; for example, some verbs require only one argument (intransitive), while others may require two (transitive) or even three (ditransitive).
2. Core arguments are necessary for the grammaticality of a sentence, while adjuncts can be added or omitted without affecting the overall meaning.
3. The relationship between predicates and their arguments can be analyzed using semantic roles to understand how different entities interact within sentences.
4. The structure of arguments often helps determine the meaning of sentences, as the presence or absence of certain arguments can lead to different interpretations.
5. Understanding arguments is essential for formal semantic analysis because it provides insights into how natural language sentences convey meaning through their underlying logical forms.

Review Questions

• How do arguments function within predicate-argument structures and why are they important?
  • Arguments function as essential components within predicate-argument structures by linking predicates with their required elements, such as subjects and objects. They are important because they dictate the relationships and interactions between entities in a sentence, which ultimately shapes its overall meaning. Without the appropriate arguments, predicates would lack clarity and context, making it difficult to understand the intended message.
• Discuss how thematic roles enhance our understanding of arguments in natural language semantics.
  • Thematic roles enhance our understanding of arguments by categorizing the specific functions that different arguments fulfill in relation to predicates. For instance, an agent is the doer of an action, while a patient is the entity affected by it. By analyzing these roles, we can see not just who is involved in an action but also how they relate to one another within a sentence. This deeper understanding allows for more precise interpretations of meaning and clarifies ambiguous situations.
• Evaluate the significance of argument structure in formal semantic analysis and its impact on natural language processing.
  • Argument structure is significant in formal semantic analysis because it provides a framework for understanding how meaning is constructed in natural language through logical representations. By evaluating argument structures, linguists and computational models can analyze sentence meanings more accurately, which is crucial for tasks like machine translation and sentiment analysis. The precise identification and categorization of arguments lead to better comprehension of nuanced language use and improve the effectiveness of algorithms that rely on linguistic data.

Related terms

Predicate: A predicate is a linguistic term that expresses a property or action of the subject in a sentence, usually represented by a verb.

Thematic Roles: Thematic roles describe the function that an argument plays in relation to the predicate, such as agent, patient, or experiencer.

Syntactic Structure: Syntactic structure refers to the way words are arranged and related in a sentence, influencing how arguments are understood within that context.