Network representations of control and raising: a parallel approach

Abstract

This paper probes a long-standing issue at raising/control distinction in terms of a parallel model.

The literature has argued the isomorphism between syntax and semantics. The Principles and Parameters favour the syntactic distinctions, which mirror the semantic ones, whereas Structure Sharing supports a semantic influence. In GB, the PRO Theorem and Control Theory have empirical and theoretical problems.

This further drives the development of Minimalism. In Hornstein’s movement approach, the track of Minimalism becomes similar to Structure Sharing but retains a syntactocentric representation. A WG model is proposed to give a more thorough explanation in order to show a syntax-semantics mapping.

Composed of Dependency Grammar, Lexical Semantics and Cognitive Grammar, the network establishes raising/control models for the data examination. The results demonstrate the semantic distinctions between control and raising, a systematic semantic analysis, and the objection of the PRO formative. The solution of empirical issues resolves the lexical polysemy and implicates that the semantic complexity cannot be detected in the syntactic structure. The further research is suggested to extend the network to complicated data in raising/control and to various linguistic phenomena.