Subcategorization frame

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*INTRANSITIVE ("sleep")
 
*INTRANSITIVE ("sleep")
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER);
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER);
 +
***The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head
 
*COPULA ("be")
 
*COPULA ("be")
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=({NP,JP},NOM,>NUM,>PER);
+
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=({NP,JP}, NOM);
 +
***The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and the complement is either a noun phrase (NP) or an adjective phrase (JP), that receives the nominative case (NOM) as well.
 
*DIRECT TRANSITIVE ("kill")
 
*DIRECT TRANSITIVE ("kill")
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(NP,ACC);
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(NP,ACC);
 +
***The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and the complement is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the accusative case (NOM).
 
*INDIRECT TRANSITIVE ("depend")
 
*INDIRECT TRANSITIVE ("depend")
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(PP,ACC,<"on");
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(PP,ACC,<"on");
 +
***The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and the complement is a prepositional phrase, that receives the accusative case (ACC) and that is preceded by "on".
 
*DITRANSITIVE ("give")
 
*DITRANSITIVE ("give")
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(NP,ACC); COMP:=(PP,DAT,<"to");
 
**SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(NP,ACC); COMP:=(PP,DAT,<"to");
 
+
***The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and there are two complements: a noun phrase (NP), that receives the accusative case (ACC), and a prepositional phrase, that receives the dative case (DAT) and is preceded by "to".
 
=== Adjectives ===
 
=== Adjectives ===
 
*LOYAL (TO)
 
*LOYAL (TO)
**COMP:=(PP,<"to");
+
**SPEC:=(NP); COMP:=(PP,<"to");
 +
***The external argument is a noun phrase (NP) and the complement is a prepositional phrase (PP) that is preceded by "to".
 
*INTERESTED (IN)
 
*INTERESTED (IN)
**COMP:=(PP,<"in");
+
**SPEC:=(NP); COMP:=(PP,<"in");
 
+
***The external argument is a noun phrase (NP) and the complement is a prepositional phrase (PP) that is preceded by "in".
 
=== Prepositions ===
 
=== Prepositions ===
 
*NEAR(TO)
 
*NEAR(TO)
**SPEC:=(NP); COMP:=(PP,<"to");
+
**SPEC:=({NP,VP}); COMP:=(PP,<"to");
 +
***The external argument is either a noun phrase (NP) or a verbal phrase (VP) and the complement is a prepositional phrase (PP) that is preceded by "in".
 
*IN
 
*IN
 
**SPEC:=({NP,VP}); COMP:=(NP);
 
**SPEC:=({NP,VP}); COMP:=(NP);
 +
***The external argument is either a noun phrase (NP) or a verbal phrase (VP) and the complement is a noun phrase (NP).

Revision as of 14:11, 11 August 2009

In the UNL framework, Subcategorization Frames are the number and types of syntactic arguments that co-occurs with the lemma in a sentence.

Contents

When to use subcategorization frames

Subcategorization frames are mandatory for words that take one or more syntactic argument, including:

  • monovalent verbs ('sleep', 'rain')
  • monovalent adverbs ('well', 'very')
  • monovalent nouns ('arrival', 'construction')
  • divalent verbs ('kill', 'kiss', 'depend')
  • divalent adjectives ('loyal', 'interested')
  • divalent prepositions and adverbs ('after', 'in', 'near', 'instead')
  • trivalent verbs ('give', 'turn')
  • trivalent prepositions ('between')
  • etc.

When not to use subcategorization frames

Subcategorization frames may not be used in case of words that take zero argument:

  • avalent nouns ('table', 'computer')
  • avalent adverbs ('here', 'now')

Arguments and adjuncts

In the UNL framework, the subcategorization frame should be as small as possible, and should include only core arguments, in opposition to adjuncts.

Syntax of generation rules

Subcategorization frames should be presented as a list of syntactic roles separated by semicolons. Each syntactic role must have the following format:

<SYNTACTIC ROLE> ":=" "(" <SYNTACTIC FEATURES> ")" [, "(" <SYNTACTIC FEATURES> ")" ]* ";"

where

<SYNTACTIC ROLE> = one of the three pre-defined syntactic roles (see below)
<SYNTACTIC FEATURES> = the list of features required by the lemma
[ ] = optional
“ “ = constant
* = to be repeated zero or more times

Syntactic Roles

There are only three different types of syntactic roles:

Tag Syntactic Role Description
SPEC specifier (external argument) subject
COMP complement (internal argument) direct object, indirect object
ADJT adjunct adverbial and nominal adjuncts

Syntactic Features

The syntactic features must indicate:

  • the selection for the syntactic category of the arguments (c-selection), if any
    • NP = Noun phrase
    • VP = Verbal phrase
    • JP = Adjective phrase
    • AP = Adverbial phrase
    • PP = Prepositional phrase
    • SP = Sentence
  • the syntactic case marking, if any
    • NOM = Nominative
    • ACC = Accusative
    • DAT = Dative
    • ABL = Ablative
    • INS = Instrumental
    • LOC = Locative
  • the agreement, if any
    • >NUM = Assigns number
    • <NUM = Receives number
    • >GEN = Assigns gender
    • <GEN = Receives gender
    • >PER = Assigns person
    • <PER = Receives person
  • the government, if any
    • < = preposition
    • > = postposition

Other symbols

[Square brackets] may be used to indicate optional elements: a[b]c = ac, abc

{braces} may be used to indicate alternative elements: a{b,c}d = abd, acd

Examples

Verbs

  • INTRANSITIVE ("sleep")
    • SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER);
      • The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head
  • COPULA ("be")
    • SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=({NP,JP}, NOM);
      • The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and the complement is either a noun phrase (NP) or an adjective phrase (JP), that receives the nominative case (NOM) as well.
  • DIRECT TRANSITIVE ("kill")
    • SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(NP,ACC);
      • The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and the complement is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the accusative case (NOM).
  • INDIRECT TRANSITIVE ("depend")
    • SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(PP,ACC,<"on");
      • The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and the complement is a prepositional phrase, that receives the accusative case (ACC) and that is preceded by "on".
  • DITRANSITIVE ("give")
    • SPEC:=(NP,NOM,>NUM,>PER); COMP:=(NP,ACC); COMP:=(PP,DAT,<"to");
      • The subject (SPEC) is a noun phrase (NP) that receives the nominative case (NOM) and that assigns the number (>NUM) and the person (>PER) agreement to the head, and there are two complements: a noun phrase (NP), that receives the accusative case (ACC), and a prepositional phrase, that receives the dative case (DAT) and is preceded by "to".

Adjectives

  • LOYAL (TO)
    • SPEC:=(NP); COMP:=(PP,<"to");
      • The external argument is a noun phrase (NP) and the complement is a prepositional phrase (PP) that is preceded by "to".
  • INTERESTED (IN)
    • SPEC:=(NP); COMP:=(PP,<"in");
      • The external argument is a noun phrase (NP) and the complement is a prepositional phrase (PP) that is preceded by "in".

Prepositions

  • NEAR(TO)
    • SPEC:=({NP,VP}); COMP:=(PP,<"to");
      • The external argument is either a noun phrase (NP) or a verbal phrase (VP) and the complement is a prepositional phrase (PP) that is preceded by "in".
  • IN
    • SPEC:=({NP,VP}); COMP:=(NP);
      • The external argument is either a noun phrase (NP) or a verbal phrase (VP) and the complement is a noun phrase (NP).
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