Thematic separation in light of sentence comprehension

Thematic relations are traditionally analysed as projecting into derivations of sentence meanings from the lexical content verbs. separation, a natural outgrowth event semantics, proposes an alternative to this tradition: thematic introduced by verb-independent elements and are, therefore, grammatically separate Although critical theories meaning representation, evidence for separation has not been reckoned with widely in linguistic theory, consequent implications psycholinguistic have received proper consideration. This is surprising representations permitted comport quite well pre-verbal interpretation during real-time comprehension. Psycholinguistic theories, stand benefit engagement separationist alternatives relations, may, turn, shed light on semantic theory should provide. After briefly defending utility events paper motivates cumulative interpretations adnominal modal adverbs; two cases where operator intervenes between relation verbal predicate. results investigating then follow, argued furnish coherent incremental without commitment specific predicates. The timecourse verb predictability also shown intersect ongoing debates granularity suggesting further connections be explored.