Satzgliedfunktionen im Deutschen: eine realistische Weiterentwicklung

Abstract

AbstractThe concept of grammatical functions has a long and changeful history. It is used in many different theoretical approaches, not least in the grammar that underlies school instruction. However, several problems and inconsistencies are connected with this concept. These problems can be solved if definitions of the individual grammatical functions are homogeneously grounded in formal criteria instead of making recourse to semantics. In this article, an axiomatic approach of this kind is presented which is couched in terms of the paradigm of Linguistic Realism. The set of definitions given affords a basis for the unambiguous analysis of (German) sentences. At the same time, the traditionally distinct concepts of grammatical functions on the one hand and valency of verbs on the other can be merged into a uniform concept. Crucial in this context is a reevaluation of the grammatical function ‘adverbial’.