Structuring the Argument: Multidisciplinary research on verb argument structure(10 Language Faculty and Beyond)

While the argument structure of verbs has long been a central issue in linguistic research of all varieties and continues to be a vexed area of research across a wide range of theoretical and empirical approaches, the inter-disciplinary perspective and dialogue remain largely under explored. This collection stems from an interest to find and explore practical, tangible points of intersection between theoretical linguists, psycholinguists and neurolinguists working on problems related to the representation and processing of verbs and their associated thematic structure. The book is organized around three core themes, (i) the basic building blocks of verbal representations and modes of construction of the verb-argument complex, (ii) non-canonical argument structure realization, with a particular focus on object-experiencer psych verbs, and (iii) the promises and challenges of neurolinguistic and psycholinguistic investigation into argument structure and the prospects for the future of interdisciplinary research on verb argument structure.

Table of Contents:
1. Acknowledgments; 2. Introduction: Argumenting the structure (by Bachrach, Asaf); 3. Part I. The general issue: Verb argument structure; 4. Can we dance without doing a dance?: Two opposite views on the integration of roots in the syntactic structure of the VP (by Acedo-Matellan, Victor); 5. Determining argument structure in sign languages (by Geraci, Carlo); 6. The mental representation and processing of light verbs (by Wittenberg, Eva); 7. Part II. Non-canonical argument structure realization; 8. Luigi piace a Laura?: Electrophysiological evidence for thematic reanalysis with Italian dative object experiencer verbs (by Droge, Alexander); 9. Causative nominalizations: Implications for the structure of psych verbs (by Alexiadou, Artemis); 10. Part III. Neurobiological models; 11. Neurocognitive mechanisms of verb argument structure processing (by Thompson, Cynthia); 12. Argument structure: Between linguistics and neuroimaging (by Shetreet, Einat); 13. Argument structure: Creating a productive space for theory and experimentation (by Ramchand, Giillian); 14. Language index; 15. Subject index

Review :
This impressive collection of papers on argument structure announces a new paradigm for Linguistics in the 21st century. Progress on outstanding issues in Linguistics will depend on real interaction among scholars both from differing theoretical orientations and from different empirical methodologies, including behavior and cognitive neuroscience experiments. The meeting of disparate minds represented in this important volume and exceptionally summarized in the introduction brings us closer both to answers about the representation and computation of verbal argument structure and to a new Linguistics. This book brings together under one roof theoretical linguistic results, psycholinguistic results (primarily from processing), and neurolinguistic results, all focusing on argument and event structure. Alongside specific case studies, it also provides a much needed overview on the way in which these distinct domains of inquiry can benefit from each other's methodology and conclusions. As such, it is an extremely welcome contribution which is sure to pave the way toward much needed increased interaction between these subdisciplines.