410 MARY L. NUNES
to determine how such relations interact with the topical function of the
LDP to permit preposing. No single hierarchy akin to the U > A for direct
argument linking can be posited for the preposing of vN arguments. This
reflects the fact that preposing is determined not only by arguments' mac-
rorole status in the English vNP, but by their thematic relations with a vN,
as well. With vNs capable of taking both macroroles, generalizations
regarding preposing must be extracted from the various factors captured in
Tables 1 and 2 below. The complex interaction of the variables included in
those tables, as well as the importance of the U in the ergatively-oriented
English vNP, is reflected in the hierarchy given in (55). As the disussion in
2.3.4.2 will clarify, affectedness (given a principled definition) and animacy
are the two relations which undergird the hierarchy. In that discussion,
affectedness will be narrowly associated with an LS-encoded semantic rela
tion borne by certain vN arguments linked to the U in the vNP, while ani
macy will be broadly associated with the semantic macrorole of A, as well
as being by definition associated with NPs bearing the thematic relations of
agent [AG] and experiencer [EXP]. (In 55, "PAT" indicates "patient.")
(55) LDP-NParg Linking Hierarchy: EXP > PAT > A[-exp]
(A/U) (U)
With vNs capable of taking only one macrorole, preposing is straightfor
ward and requires little discussion. In fact, with these nominals, argument
preposability is determined solely by a condition which applies in all vNPs:
(56) Only arguments linked to (or interpreted as being linked to)^28 a
macrorole may occur prenominally (i.e. function topically).
vNPs headed by this latter type of vN (i.e. vNs capable of taking only one
macrorole) will be considered first in the ensuing discussion.2.3.4.1 Prenominally-permitted arguments with vNs capable of taking only
one macrorole
Where vNs can take just one macrorole, argument preposing is regulated
only by the general condition given in (56). The condition is unaffected by
the number of arguments included in a vN's LS (cf. one argument, single-
macrorole vNs in 57 and two-argument, single-macrorole vNs in 58). Recall
that with vNs capable of taking only one macrorole, the argument linked to
that macrorole is linked to the direct argument position by the U > A hier
archy for direct-argument linking (but see fn. 28). Since the condition in