ARGUMENT LINKING IN DERIVED NOMINALS 415therefore outrank any thematic relation which is merely typically topical (in
terms of its argument's inherent lexical content) in the semantic-relations
context of the vNP in which it occurs, a situation which will be addressed
shortly.^37
What is unique about the ACM experiential states is that the inhe
rently topical NP bearing the EXP thematic role also bears the U mac-
rorole. This means that just as only the EXP-U can be linked to the direct
argument position by the U > A direct-argument linking hierarchy (cf. 8),
so only the EXP NP can be linked to the LDP by virtue of its inherently
topical relation with the vN.^38 Thus, vNs belonging to this class of nominals
can never head constructions which include both a topicalized argument in
the LDP and a direct argument.
In the vN data, no other nominals capable of taking both macroroles
link an argument which is by definition animate to the direct argument posi
tion.^39 That is, with the exception of the ACM experiential states, the
thematic role borne by an indirect argument linked to the A is more likely
to reflect both animacy and human status than is the thematic role borne by
the U direct argument. With all but one subgroup of Type D nominals in
Table 1, these As are the AGs or EFs of ACT predicates, where the ACT
is either a component of an ACM LS or is an ACT which in the vNP is
given a delimited ACM interpretation. With the type D subgroup which
does not have an AG or EF A, the A is the LOC argument of ACH vNs like
inheritance and acquisition. Of these three thematic roles (AG, EF, LOC),
only the AG role is by definition associated with animate NPs (AGs are the
volitional controllers of an action). Nonetheless, EFs and LOCs — within
the semantic-role contexts of vNPs in which they are linked to the A — are
more typically animate than are the TH or PAT arguments which are linked
by the U to the direct argument position in those vNPs.
That is, although EFs and LOCs are not by definition animate or
human, where they are linked to the A they are more generally animate
(and frequently human) than are the NP arguments linked to the U in the
same nominals. Thus, for example, it is difficult to find vNs in the data base
which easily take an inanimate EF or LOC actor and an animate under
goer although the examples in (63) demonstrate that they exist.
(63) a. the article's ef:A criticism of Mayor Henley th:"U"^4 °
b. the newspaper's efA investigation of Samth:"U"
. the zoo'sloc:A acquisition of an elephantth:U