What Makes an Agent an Agent?
Comparing the Semantic Properties of Instruments and Prototypical Agents in Subject Position
Abstract
This study investigates the defining properties of Agents and the interplay of syntax and semantics in semantic inferences, based on Dowty’s Proto-Role Hypothesis. Five properties from Dowty’s list were selected, and 39 Italian sentence pairs showing the Instrument-subject Alternation were created. 93 participants rated how much Agents, Instrument-subjects, Instrument-PPs and Patients exhibit each property. Results show that while some properties are sensitive to syntactic realization, others are linked to lexical semantics and world knowledge, supporting the view that semantic inferences arise from an interaction between syntax and semantics.
Presentato: 11 Giugno 2025 | Accettato: 15 Luglio 2025 | Pubblicato 14 Ottobre 2025 | Lingua: en
Keywords Inferences • Semantics-syntax interface • Proto-Role Hypothesis • Thematic roles • Proto-Agent • Instruments • Proto-Patient
Copyright © 2025 Alice Suozzi, Gianluca Lebani, Giulia Maggiolini. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/AnnOc/2499-1562/2025/14/006