Advances in Role and Reference Grammar

ARGUMENT LINKING IN DERIVED NOMINALS 383

Figure 2: The Layered Structure of the Noun Phrase

Other similarities and differences between clause and NP structure are

exhibited in Figures 1 and 2. For example, the NP is like the clause in hav­

ing a modified layering in constituent structure (i.e. the periphery does not

enclose the core but is a type of modifier linked to it) and a pure layering in

operator structure (i.e. each outer layer encloses the inner ones). As in the

clause, the ordering of elements (except for the LDP) is not fixed univer­

sally but varies language-specifically. However, whereas only some of the

operators have scope over the entire clause, all of the NP operators have

scope over the entire NP. Thus, the nominal LDP NP is a constituent of the

NP and lies within the scope of NP operators, but the sentential LDP NP/

PP is not a clausal constituent and lies outside the scope of the outermost

clausal operator, illocutionary force.

Thus, critical elements of noun phrase structure may be analyzed in

terms of clause and sentence structure. The discussion now turns to an

investigation of the relation of nominal arguments to the nuclear vN and

semantic roles. In 2.2.2, the direct-core-argument NP marked by of is the

focus of attention. In 2.2.3, the function of the nominal's pre-core LDP NP

— an NP which may or may not be an argument of the vN — is examined.

Post-nuclear indirect core arguments are discussed in 2.3.1 and 2.3.3.