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L01 CPG: Karaka and theta role (advanced) CPG: Karaka distinct from theta role (Advanced topic - Not included in this course) ---------------------------- 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 ? ---------------------------- 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) ---------------------------- 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 ---------------------------- KARTA KARAKA Out of all the participants mentioned, the one who is independent (or swatantra) is the karta karaka. ---------------------------- 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 ---------------------------- 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. ----------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------..........................................NEXT PREVIOUS INDEX