Case Linking: A Theory of Case and Verb Diathesis Applied to Classical Sanskrit
N. Ostler, 1979
In this work a proposal is made for the integration of Case into syntactic and semantic theory. Case is the previous of three components of the grammar, each of which has its own internal structure. These are: the domain of Case Incidence, whose rules govern the occurrence of relevant morphological categories, in particular the Formal Cases, on the basis of syntactic information; the domain of Functional Structure, which is the framework relating Participant Roles (similar to Fillmore�s �Deep Cases�) to types of predicate; and the domain of Linking itself, which establishes systematic correspondences between the morphological categories and the participant roles.
In Chapter 1, these three components are laid out. The rules of Case Incidence are a part of the syntax. They interact particularly closely with Phrase Structure, but evidence is presented (from Japanese) which suggests that the power of these rules goes beyond that of context-free PS rules. Previous attempts to formulate partial theories of functional structure are reviewed, and a new and more comprehensive attempt is made, which is localist in orientation: the concepts of Source, Goal, Theme and Path play key roles. A system of binary features is introduced, which is intended to map out the whole domain, and to provide intrinsic connexions between types of predicate and types of participant role. Linking principles are shown to be of two kinds, Semantic and Grammatical. Semantic linking rules make use of the feature system to establish intrinsic connexions between particular formal cases and particular classes of roles. Grammatical linking rules presuppose total orderings of the roles and cases respectively, and establish links on the basis of priority determined by these orderings. Extensive illustrations of these various principles are given, from Japanese and other languages. And the whole system is integrated with Bresnan�s �Realistic Transformational Grammar�. The place of the Lexicon in the application of all these components is crucial, and it is suggested that lexical rules provide a neat formulation for the complex phenomena of Verb Diathesis which interact with Case.
In the remaining four chapters of the work, the system is applied to the analysis of Classical Sanskrit. A substantially complete analysis of Sanskrit phrase-structure and case-incidence is given. All the traditional cases are given respresentations in the framework which are illustrated in extenso. In Chapter 4, alternations in transitivity are investigated from the standpoint of a theory of Sanskrit lexical entries. And in Chapter 5, the Sanskrit Passive is discussed. Besides giving an analysis of it as a Diathesis within the terms of the system, the chapter also shows it to present evidence against other current theories of the passive, those due to Relational Grammar and the Revisited Extended Standard Theory.
Thesis supervisor:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rene Paul Viktor Kiparsky
Title:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Professor of Linguistics
Table of Contents
Chapter I         The general framework of case linking                                      12
           1.1      Introduction                                                                                         12
           1.2      Structurally induced case                                                                      19
                       1.2.1   Introduction                                                                             19
                       1.2.2   The adnominal genitive and the power of structural case
                                   marking                                                                                   22
                       1.2.3   Japanese case arrays and the structural context of
                                   particular cases                                                            31
                       1.2.4   Formal case & morphology                                                      38
           1.3      Functional structure                                                                              41
                       1.3.1   Introduction                                                                             41
                       1.3.2   Previous approaches                                                                43
                                   1.3.2.1 Logic and philosophy                                                   43
                                   1.3.2.2 Fillmore�s �case grammar�                                            45
                                   1.3.2.3 Halliday�s �transitivity systems�                         47
                                   1.3.2.4 Wallace Chafe                                                             51
                                   1.3.2.5 Anderson�s �Localist Case Grammar�              56
                                   1.3.2.6 Theories based on embedding: Carter, Jackendoff        59
                       1.3.3   Position and identificational predicates                          61
                       1.3.4   Themes, goals, sources and paths                                             65
                       1.3.5   Possessional and cognitional predicates inversion                      75
                       1.3.6   Actional predicates                                                                  83
                       1.3.7   Embedding, external roles                                                        91
                       1.3.8   Formation rules for functional structure, binding            96
                       1.3.9   Conclusion                                                                              99
           1.4      Linking rules                                                                                        101
                       1.4.1   Introductory overview                                                              101
                                   1.4.1.1 A sketch of Case linking, its relation to Bresnan�s
                                               �Realistic Transformation Grammar�                             101
                                   1.4.1.2 Comparison with �Lexicase�                                         111
                                   1.4.1.3 Comparison with generative semantics: relational
                                               grammar; Panini�s Karaka system                                114
                                   1.4.1.4 Comparison with Chomsky�s �Revised Extended
                                               Standard Theory�                                                        117
                       1.4.2   Semantic and grammatical linking                                             120
                       1.4.3   Role features and the characterization of formal cases, case
                                   syncretism                                                                               123
                       1.4.4   Semantic linking I: minimal feature specification or
                                   prototype role?                                                            126
                       1.4.5   Semantic linking II: case studies                                    129
                                   1.4.5.1 Introduction                                                                 129
                                   1.4.5.2 Japanese                                                                     130
                                   1.4.5.3 Turkish                                                            135
                                   1.4.5.4 Conclusion                                                                  140
                       1.4.6   Grammatical linking I                                                               141
                                   1.4.6.1 Hierarchies of role and case                                         141
                                   1.4.6.2 The subject and ergativity                                             146
                       1.4.7   Grammatical linking II: illustration from Japanese                      150
                       1.4.8   Cater�s �Backwards Linking� vs. Inverse predicates                 160
                       1.4.9   Substantive relations between linking and formal case
                                   & morphology                                                                         164
           1.5      Lexical entries and lexical rules                                                 167
                       1.5.1   The descriptive power of lexical entries                        167
                       1.5.2   Some restrictions                                                                     174
                       1.5.3   Diathesis through lexical rules                                       176
Chapter II       Rules of form in Sanskrit                                                                      178
           2.0      Introduction to the analysis of Sanskrit; tests; abbreviations                   178
           2.1      Categories                                                                                           182
           2.2      The major PS rules                                                                              187
                       2.2.1   PS1                                                                                         188
                       2.2.2   PS2: impersonals in Sanskrit; finite verb morphology     190
                       2.2.3   PS3                                                                                         196
                       2.2.4   PS4                                                                                         199
           2.3      The expansion of P�                                                                             200
                       2.3.1   Oblique case marking                                                              200
                       2.3.2   Adverbs                                                                                  201
                       2.3.3   Adpositions                                                                             204
                       2.3.4   Predicate N                                                                             208
                       2.3.5   Attributive and predicative position                                           209
           2.4      Deverbal expressions                                                                           213
                       2.4.1   General                                                                                   213
                       2.4.2   Deverbal nominals                                                                   215
                       2.4.3   Infinitives and gerunds                                                  219
           2.5      Two minor PS rules; the vocative                                                         223
           2.6      Structurally determined case                                                                 226
                       2.6.1   CR1 incidence of nominative under S                           227
                       2.6.2   CR2 incidence of Acc. under V                                               228
                       2.6.3   CR3 incidence of Gen. under N                                               230
           2.7      Case-marking rules; the concept of head                                              233
           2.8      word order                                                                                          237
Chapter III      Case linking                                                                                         240
           3.1      Semantic linking                                                                                   240
                       3.1.1   Introductory                                                                            240
                       3.1.2   Accusative                                                                               242
                       3.1.3   Instrumental                                                                             246
                       3.1.4   Dative                                                                                     252
                       3.1.5   Ablative                                                                                   255
                       3.1.6   Locative                                                                                  259
                       3.1.7   Genitive                                                                                   262
                       3.1.8   Theoretical implications                                                265
           3.2      Grammatical linking                                                                              270
                       3.2.1   Introductory                                                                            270
                       3.2.2   Examples                                                                                 275
                                   3.2.2.1 Position                                                                       275
                                   3.2.2.2 Possession                                                                   279
                                   3.2.2.3 Cognition                                                                     281
                                   3.2.2.4 Events and actions                                                       282
                       3.2.3   Vivaksa: paths as subjects                                                        285
                       3.2.4   Grammatical linking of the instrumental                         294
                       3.2.5   Inverse predicates in sentient fields                                           300
           3.3      Nominals and predication                                                                     308
                       3.3.1   Linking the genitive                                                                  308
                       3.3.2   Predication                                                                              314
                       3.3.3   Agreement as a phenomenon of semantic matching                   320
                       3.3.4   A derivation                                                                             324
Chapter IV      Lexical entries in Sanskrit                                                                     329
           4.1      General remarks                                                                                  329
           4.2      Inherent and non-inherent arguments                                                    333
           4.3      �Ditransitives�                                                                                      337
           4.4      Transitivity                                                                                           342
                       4.4.1   Variable transitivity and compounding                           343
                       4.4.2   Accusative of extene, duration and content;
                                   transitivization                                                                          351
Chapter V       The passive                                                                                         365
           5.1      Impressionistic description                                                                   365
           5.2      Relational grammar and the passive                                                      370
           5.3      A basic transformational analysis of the passive                         387
           5.4      A �move NP� analysis of the Sanskrit passive                           397
           5.5      Lexical analysis of the passive                                                  403
                       5.5.1   The passive label                                                                     403
                       5.5.2   The personal passive                                                                405
                       5.5.3   Passives of intransitive verbs                                                    409
                       5.5.4   The reflexive and impersonal reflexive passives             415
                       5.5.5   The �1AEX�                                                                            420
           5.6      A transformational-lexical solution                                                        422