Direct internal arguments of nouns in catalan: a theoretical and descriptive approach

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to describe the realization of the direct internal arguments of nouns in Catalan. It is based on the idea that some nouns, like verbs, are predicates, i.e., they express events and allow argument selection as well as theta-role assignment.

It focuses on the direct internal arguments that are usually themes or patients and are frequently spelled-out as PPde.

Nonetheless, data extracted from the analysis of 105 «transitive» nouns at CTILC show that PPde is not the only possible realization of these complements. Catalan allows direct internal arguments of nouns to be PPa, contra, vers, envers or cap a, as well as relational adjectives. Why does this variation exist? Is it systematic? Are there any factors that can explain it?

This paper tries to shed some light on the diversity of realizations for direct internal arguments in Catalan. It shows that prepositional variation depends on Aspect, on nouns’ argument valence and especially on the thematic properties of the arguments themselves.

Key words: syntax, Catalan, Noun Phrase, argument structure, genitive, dative.