Definition & Meaning of "theta theory"

What is "theta theory"?

Theta theory is a component of generative grammar that deals with the roles that different participants play in a sentence, often referred to as theta roles or thematic roles. Developed by Noam Chomsky, this theory assigns specific semantic roles to arguments based on their relationship to the verb. Common theta roles include agent, which is the doer of an action, patient, which is the entity affected by the action, and experiencer which is the entity that perceives or feels. Theta theory helps to explain how verbs determine the structure of a sentence and the number and types of arguments they can take. By analyzing these roles, researchers gain insights into the relationship between syntax and semantics in language.