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 L01 CPG: Karaka and theta role (advanced)


  CPG: Karaka distinct from theta role 

(Advanced topic - Not included in this course)
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    ANOTHER PROBLEM

Same post-position used for different semantic 
roles for the same verb:
 c.1 laDakaa taale ko kholaataa hei.
      (boy-0  lock-acc. open  -s)
     The boy opens the lock.
 c.2 yeh caabii  taale ko kholaati hei.
      (this key-0 lock   opens )
     This key opens the lock.
 c.3 taalaa khul gayaa.
      The lock opened.
How do we get the mapping ?
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   TOWARDS A SOLUTION: KARAKA THEORY

Karaka theory provides the vital link between
semantic relations and post-position/case.

Roughly, 
o an action or event has many participants. 
o karaka relations are the relations between the 
  verb and the nominals (for the action and 
  participants, respectively).

Each dhatu (verbal root) refers to an action which has
o  a phala (result), and 
o  a vyapara (activity)
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 PHALA (RESULT) AND VYAPARA (ACTIVITY)

- Result is that state which when reached, the action is
  can be said to have been accomplished.
   + Ex. lock in open state
- the activity is the sequence of actions and 
  sub-actions that take place
   + Ex. Opening of lock by a person
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   KARTA KARAKA

Out of all the participants mentioned, the one who is 
independent (or swatantra) is the karta karaka.
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  STRUCTURE OF ACTION

Each verb refers to an activity that can be further
sub-divided into sub-activities.

- inserting the key & turning it      
- key presses against the levers, & makes them move
- latch retracts & the lock opens
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   SUB-ACTVITIES

Each sub-activity has its own karaka & semantic relations.
For example, opening of a lock can be subdivided into:

- Inserting the key & turning it
- The key pressing against the levers & moving them
- Motion of the latch & opening of lock

Each activity will have karaka relations.

 c.1 Mohan ne taalaa kholaa.
     Mohan opened the lock.
 c.2 Is caabii ne taalaa kholaa.
     This key opened the lock.

Thus, Mohan & key can both be *karta* of the appropriate
sub-activity.
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   VIVAKSHA (SPEAKER VIEWPOINT)

Secondly, the speaker has a viewpoint while reporting 
the action - called vivaksha.

A sentence is not only a statement of an objective activity
but also speaker's viewpoint.

 e.1 raam ne gilaas toDaa diyaa.
      (Ram -ne glass broke)
     Ram broke the glass (intentionally).
 e.2 raam   se gilaas TuuTa gayaa.
      (Ram -se glass broke)
     Ram broke the glass (unintionally).

Karaka relations thus depends on the *vivaksha* or speaker
view point (from which the sentence is uttered).

Choice of verb-form is affected by vivaksha. That in turn 
determines vibhakti.
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