Agent and Theme Theta Roles in Balochi: A Morphosemantic Analysis
Keywords:
Argument/Thematic structure, Balochi, English, Agents, ThemesAbstract
The core purpose of this current study is to explore and analyze the Argument/Thematic structure of Balochi verbs. This present study pursues to see that how various arguments or noun phrases in are assigned agent as well as theme theta roles by Balochi verbs. The study explores if agent as well as theme theta roles exist in various sentences of the Balochi language. Using Carnie’s (2007) theory of Theta Roles, it intends to answer the research question: How Balochi verbs assign agent and theme theta roles to their arguments? The data are collected from natural verbal/oral form of Balochi sentences. It is important to note that the agreement among a verb and its arguments is an important aspect to learn any language. In order to analyze agent and theme theta roles in Balochi; each verb phrase is thereby analyzed in detail with respect to argument/thematic structure to find agent as well as theme theta roles in the Balochi sentences. The qualitative method has been applied along with descriptive and analytical research designs. Balochi agents are more flexible in terms of place and position in the verbal form. As compared to English, Balochi agents can be used at the beginning, middle, or the end position in spoken form of Balochi sentences. The extensive study therefore finds that Balochi language has both agent and theme theta roles which is like that of English.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10499630
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