CUNY Linguistics Colloquium (September 3, 2026)

We're excited to welcome Professor Chris Collins (NYU) for the first Linguistics Colloquium of the semester!

Sep 3, 2026, 4:15 PM (ET)

Room 9207 or Zoom.

Talk: A Merge-Based Approach to Argument Structure

Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuGYUXixDN-7tn_9YlQftyNqC8yDRMWDjYU7OpaVzT1VQtxg/viewform

Title: A Merge-Based Approach to Argument Structure

Abstract: This talk outlines the Merge-based approach to argument structure

developed in Collins 2024 (updating, defending and extending Collins 2005). 

The predictions of the Merge-based theory of implicit arguments will 

be compared to the predictions made by non-Merge based theories.

Collins, Chris. 2024. Principles of Argument Structure: A Merge-Based

Approach. MIT Press, Cambridge.

(More information about the speaker can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gsH996pk)

Implicit Arguments versus Implicit Predicates

Abstract: Much has been written in the syntax literature about implicit arguments. In this squib, I introduce the term ‘implicit predicate’. I define implicit predicates and argue that they are syntactically projected, exactly like Collins 2024 argues for implicit arguments.  

Keywords: implicit arguments, implicit predicates, serial verb constructions

Implicit Arguments versus Implicit Predicates