Parameters and Binding Theory

Parameters and Binding TheoryLIN 514Elly van Gelderen

Three Principles:

A:An anaphor (reflexive) must be bound in a minimal domain.

B:A pronominal must be free in a minimal domain.

C:An R-Expression must be free.

Bound:

Have an antecedent that (a) c-commands, (b) matches in features, and (c) is within the minimal domain.

Domain Parameter:

What is the Minimal Domain? In English, it is certainly the finite TP:

1.*John wants that himself wins.

2.John wants himself to win.

3.*John wants that Mary votes for himself.

4.John wants to vote for himself.

In Japanese, it is not:

5.John-waj[Bill-gai zibun-oi/j nikunde iru to] omotte iru

John Bill self hates-is that thinks is

`John thinks that Bill hates him/himself

The same is true in Chinese and Korean, to name but a few:

6.Zhangsanj renwei [Lisii hai le zijii/j]

Zhangsan think Lisi hurt ASP self

`Zhangsan thought that Lisi hurt himself'. (from Ho 1999)

7.Minca-nunj [Yongho-kaj caki-luli/j miweha-n-ta-ko] sayngkakha-n-ta

Minca-TOP Yongho-NOM self-ACC hate-PR-DECL-C think-PR-DECL

`Minca thinks that Yongho hates her/himself'. (from Choi 1999)

English is even more restricted than just the finite TP, as (8) shows:

8.Mary expects John to vote for himself/*herself.

In English, the reflexive cannot find an antecedent outside a clause if that clause has a subject of its own, even if the clause is infinitival. Again, languages differ. In some, if the clause is subjunctive, the reflexive can `look outside'.

The Subset Principle (Manzini & Wexler) says that the minimal domain can be selected, and simplified, it looks like (a) to (d), with (a) the most restricted (Note that M&W have a to e):

Minimal domain contains:

a.a subject, or

b.a tense, or

c.an independent tense (i.e. not a subjunctive), or

d.a root tense.

Japanese would set the parameter for zibun as (d), Catalan and Icelandic as (c), English as (a) for himself.

Interestingly, these are not the only reflexives, and often a distinction is made between simple reflexives (zibun, caki, ziji, sich, se) and complex (taziji, herself, si stesso, elle meme): the simple ones are less restricted. Sometimes languages have two kinds of reflexives (e.g. Chinese, Italian, French). In Chinese, the complex reflexive is taziji `himself/herself', woziji `myself' etc. The minimal domain of these is (a), as (9) shows:

9.*wo bu xu [erzi ma woziji]

I not permit son swear myself

`I won't permit my son to swear at myself'.

Question

What is going on in (10) and (11), from Chinese, and in (12) and (13) from Arabic?

10Johni xiangxin [Billj dui Samk shuo [zijii/j/*k taoyan Mary]]

John believes Bill to Sam said self hated Mary

‘John believes that Bill said to Sam that he hated Mary.’

11*Johni xiangxin [wo shuo [zijii taoyan Mary]]

John believes I said self hated Mary

‘John believes that I said that he hated Mary.’

12.ya?taqid-u Alex 'anna Bill yakrah-u nafs-a-hu

Think-NOM Alex that Bill hate-NOM self-ACC- 3PS

“Alex thinks Bill hates himself”

In the above example the reflexive refers with no ambiguity to Bill.

13ya?taqid-u Alex 'anna Bill yakrah-u-hu

Think-NOM Alex that Bill hate-NOM -3PS

“Alex thinks Bill hates him”

The pronoun at the end of the verb hate refers to Alex. (thanks to Salem Albuhayri)