Case in Lexical-Functional Grammar

Abstract

AbstractThe treatment of case has been one of the central concerns within lexical-functional grammar (LFG) since its inception in the late 1970s. LFG separates facts about linear word order and constituency from the functional dependency structure analysis of a clause. A sophisticated analysis of cross-linguistic case patterns only became available as LFG's linking theory (known as lexical mapping theory) evolved. In particular, once it was recognised on the basis of argumentation by Rappaport (1983) that argument structure needed to be posited as a level of representation that was independent of constituent structure, the way was paved for analyses of case to be stated in terms of generalisations over a(rgument)-structure. That is, in terms of generalisations that take both semantic and syntactic factors into account. This article first presents some LFG basics, then briefly charts the development of linking theory and discusses current theories of case. It also considers grammatical relations and grammatical functions, constructive case, and differential case theory. It concludes with a consideration of LFG-based analyses that are couched within optimality theory.