We argue that crosslinguistic variation regarding verbal reflexivization is parametric, reflecting a broader lexicon-syntax parameter: arity operations—operations on θ-roles, which affect the valence of a predicate—can apply in the lexicon or in the syntax. The significant empirical coverage of this parameter supports the view that the lexicon must be an active component of the grammar. The discussion focuses mainly on the formation of reflexive verbs. We argue that the prevailing view that reflexive verbs have an unaccusative derivation cannot be maintained. Rather, the reflexivization operation bundles a θ-role with an external θ-role, forming a combination that must merge externally. Next, we also briefly review other arity operations: (a) reciprocalization, (b) decausativization, and (c) saturation, which is involved in the formation of passives, middles, and impersonals. Variation in auxiliary selection, owing to the application of reflexivization or other arity operations, is independent of the lexicon-syntax parameter and follows under our approach from a structural accusative Case parameter.

The Theta System -an overview 1 TANYA REINHARTThis paper presents an overview of a larger project in progress on the concepts interface. In part, it is based on the findings in Reinhart (2000), where several of the problems are discussed in greater details. However, many aspects of the system have been further developed, or changed, since that manuscript.The general picture I assume is that the Theta system (what has been labeled in Chomsky's Principles and Parameters framework 'Theta theory') is the system enabling the interface between the systems of concepts, the computational system (syntax) and, indirectly (via the syntactic representations), with the semantic inference systems.In the modular view of Fodor and Chomsky, the cognitive systems operate independently of each other, and generally, the information processed in any given system is not legible to the others. But for the interface to be possible, each system should contain also some information that is legible to other systems. Possibly, a system can also pass on information that is not legible within that system, but which is legible to others. We may assume that for each set of systems, there is some central system that gathers information that may be legible to the other sets of systems, and it is this system that enables the interface. The theta system can be viewed, then, as the central system of the systems of concepts.The Theta system consists of (at least):a. Lexical entries, which are coded concepts, with formal features defining the h-relations of verb-entries.

In this monograph Tanya Reinhart discusses strategies enabling the interface of different cognitive systems, which she identifies as the systems of concepts, inference, context, and sound. Her point of departure is Noam Chomsky's hypothesis that language is optimally designed—namely, that in many cases, the bare minimum needed for constructing syntactic derivations is sufficient for the full needs of the interface. Deviations from this principle are viewed as imperfections. The book covers in depth four areas of the interface: quantifier scope, focus, anaphora resolution, and implicatures. The first question in each area is what makes the computational system (CS, syntax) legible to the other systems at the interface—how much of the information needed for the interface is coded already in the CS, and how it is coded. Next Reinhart argues that in each of these areas there are certain aspects of meaning and use that cannot be coded in the CS formal language, on both conceptual and empirical grounds. This residue is governed by interface strategies that can be viewed as repair of imperfections. They require constructing and comparing a reference set of alternative derivations to determine whether a repair operation is indeed the only way to meet the interface requirements. Evidence that reference-set computation applies in these four areas comes from language acquisition. The required computation poses a severe load on working memory. While adults can cope with this load, children, whose working memory is less developed, fail in tasks requiring this computation.

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