Case Grammar: From Case Roles to Frame Elements : An Investigation of Case and Semantic Roles in the Works of Charles J. Fillmore With Special Focus on the FrameNet Project Applied to Five Sense Verbs

Abstract

Based on the Government and Binding Theory of generative grammar where both Case Theory and Theta Theory require every referential expression to have abstract Case and a thematic role, this study considers the impact of Charles Fillmore's Case Grammar where his concept of case is different from that of traditional grammar. He suggests that it pertains to a deeper level of syntax, and ends up with a theory of case roles that in effect is a theory of semantic roles. The relationship between syntax and semantics is further discussed with regard to linguistic theories of linking or mapping. In this respect, three types of verbs ergatives, psychological predicates and double object verbs are investigated and considered to be evidence for the need of idiosyncratic lexical specification of semantic roles.

Fillmore's frame semantics continues his Case Grammar and ends up as the FrameNet Project. This is an attempt at further specifying the English lexicon. To consider its value, the three verb types are dealt with in a FrameNet approach, before a closer investigation of the five main sense verbs feel, hear, see, smell and taste is done on the basis of sentences taken from the British National Corpus (BNC). For these verbs, there is a slight difference between traditional semantic role assignment and the frame elements (FEs) introduced in the FrameNet Project. However, these nuances may not be vital or necessary for the understanding of the semantic properties that exist in the lexicon.