[Lingtyp] Distinction between semantic arguments and semantic adjuncts

[Chao Li]

Dear Colleagues,



The distinction between argument and adjunct is crucial for many linguistic
analyses and much linguistic theorizing. However, how to define the
argument and the adjunct and how to clearly distinguish between the two are
controversial. Further complicating the issue is the existence of two
related levels, semantic and (morpho)syntactic (e.g. what is semantically
considered an argument may be (morpho)syntactically realized as an adjunct,
as evidenced by passive formation in English). To be clear, this query is
about the distinction between semantic arguments and semantic adjuncts (or
semantic non-arguments). Specifically, in the case of verbs like *buy* and
*sell* and in the context of a business transaction that generally involves
a buyer, a seller, a transfer of goods, and a transfer of money, how many
semantic arguments does each verb have, what are they, and what is the
rationale behind the analysis? Similarly, in the case of *cut*, how many
semantic arguments does it have and will that include the tool used in the
cutting too? After all, isn’t the tool a necessary participant of the
cutting action and how often do we cut something without using any tool?
Likewise, how many semantic arguments in the case of *bring*?



Particularly, without looking at the different syntactic frames and
constructions where these verbs occur or without paying any attention to
how they are really used, on what (semantic) grounds can we say that
Participant X is an argument of *buy*, *sell, cut, *or* bring* or that
Participant Y is an adjunct of the same verb? For colleagues who’d like to
make a further distinction between core arguments and peripheral arguments
in addition to the distinction between arguments and adjuncts, then the
following questions arise. Namely, if without looking at the different
syntactic frames and constructions where these verbs occur, on what
(semantic) grounds can we say that Participant X is a core argument, a
peripheral argument, or an adjunct (of *buy*, *sell*, *cut*, or *bring*)
and what is the difference between a peripheral argument and an adjunct?



Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance for
your time and help!



Best regards,

Chao
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