Argument structure as a function of Merge
In this dissertation, I propose a novel way of capturing the relationship between predicates (verbs) and their arguments (subjects, objects). Traditionally, this process takes place in two steps. During the first step, we determine which role which argument plays in the event expressed by the verb (does the argument cause the event, or does it undergo the event?). During the second step, the grammaticial functions of the arguments are determined, so which argument is the subject and which argument is the object. While there are certain regularities to be discovered, there is no one-on-one relationship between the role and the grammatical function of an argument.
The approach proposed in this dissertation combines these two steps. The role of an argument is determined simultaneously with determining its grammatical function. As a result, the model of the human capacity of language (to which this theory belongs) is significantly simplified.