Unifying (2a) with the 9s in (4a) yields the following structure:
This is still not well-formed, since the syntax of English requires the open syntactic variablePto befilled—by an
element unlinked to meaning. At this point the defective lexical item of steps in to satisfy this remaining variable,
without affecting the semantics.
If (2a) is unified with (4b) instead, we getBeethoven's bride, in which the -'saffix, likeof, is a defective lexical item.
The process of variable satisfaction leads to parallel embedding in syntax and semantics. For instance, we can use the
composed structureBeethoven's brideto satisfy thefirst argument oflike, giving us, say,Beethoven's bride like(s) Schubert,
shown in (7a).Likealso allows its second conceptual argument to be a situation expressed as a clause. Using this
argument structure we can construct a sentence such asBeethoven likes that Schubert writes music, (7b). (In the interest of
typographical clarity I now notate the phonology in ordinary orthography.^199 )
PHRASAL SEMANTICS 381
(^199) I have treated the complementizerthat in (7b) as a unit needed tofill in the syntax but lacking semanticcontent, by analogy with the empty prepositionof and the genitive
affix. This may or may not be right, but it's simplest for now.