Semantičke uloge u gramatikama engleskoga jezika
Roles of Semantics in English Grammar

Summary/Abstract: Intrasentential morphosyntax can properly be understood only in relation to semantic (and pragmatic) functions of sentence elements. Therefore, an important goal of linguistic research is adequate description of syntactic-semantic relationships in a sentence. This paper critically evaluates the description of semantic roles of subject and object in two English grammar books and analyzes the relationship between semantic and syntactic functions of sentence elements. Different theoretical frameworks are discussed such as Case Grammar, which points out that subject and object cannot be equated with semantic roles; Role and Reference Grammar, which introduces two semantic macroroles, Actor and Undergoer, very useful concepts that correspond to two primary arguments in a prototypical transitive relationship; Cognitive Grammar, which offers conceptual characterization of basic grammatical functions. This paper explores their influence on two English grammar books, and the results offer new insights into relationships between predicate and nominal constituents of a sentence thus contributing to better understanding of the semantics of both subject and object. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language is influenced by Case Grammar since syntactic functions of sentence elements are determined according to the hierarchy of semantic roles. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language is influenced by traditional grammatical theory on one hand, and on the other it accepts certain tenets of Role and Reference Grammar, since the alignment of arguments with subject and object depends on the generalization of agent and patient. Furthermore, major factors that influence the alignment are cognitive abilities such as perception, presentation, and focusing of attention, which is, in our opinion, direct influence of Cognitive Grammar.

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