ABSTRACT
I n this chapter I describe a three-dimensional model for representing the causal-aspectual structure of events. It is almost universally accepted that both the causal and aspectual structure of events is relevant to grammatical analysis. The aspectual structure of events, called lexical aspect or by some, Aktionsart-others restrict this term to aspectual derivational morphology-interacts with grammatical aspect. Some linguists also argue that the aspectual structure of events inuences argument linking-that is, the assignment of participants of events to clausal NP roles (Subject, Object, Oblique). The causal structure of events, or more generally the force-dynamic structure of events (Talmy, 1988), also inuences argument linking. Some linguists, including myself, have argued that causal structure is the primary determinant of argument linking (Croft, 1991, 1998a, 1998b). These arguments are briey recounted here, in order to motivate the topic of this chapter.
