Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-158).

Within a theoretical framework that combines generative X-bar syntax (Chomsky 1986), a compositional interpretive semantics and elements of Aristotelian logic, this thesis studies the nature of the syntactic and semantic constituents involved in the subject-predicate relations of elementary sentences containing 'be'. Interpretation is characterized in terms of the entities of various types that speakers intend to refer to and the various ontological types that the referents are said to belong to. 'Be' is analyzed as a single lexical item. This analysis unifies all syntactic functions (e.g., auxiliary, copula, main verb) and all "senses" of 'be' (e.g., definitional, equative, predicative, etc.). Conceptually, 'be' in English is an explicit sign of attribution. The propositional content of simple sentences of the form (NP be XP) is the attribution of a certain ontological type or types to the referent(s) of the subject NP. Although the value of postulating a single ontological category to account for all the entities that speakers can refer to and talk about (such as an Aristotelian substance) is questionable, nevertheless, such categories and types seem pertinent for linguistic analysis. With respect to linguistic inference, pronominalization, and question words, an analysis based on ontological types is shown to be more explanatory than one based on the assignment of a fixed set of thematic relations to arguments.

Typescript. / Bibliography: leaves 159-165. / vi, 165 l tables

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-170). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed August 31, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-181).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, School of Education, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Western Sydney, 2002. / "Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." "March 2002" Bibliography: leaves 285 - 309.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-118). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. John M. Murphy, committee chair; Lucy Pickering, Gayle L. Nelson, Sara C. Weigle, committee members. Electronic text (98 p. : col. ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed June 11, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-82).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [201]-216).