Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase
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Jenny Lederer
Abstract
The distribution of anaphoric pronouns in prepositional phrases has garnered much attention in the literature on antecedent binding since, contrary to fundamental binding principles, this syntactic environment appears to allow either reflexive or coreferential nonreflexive pronouns (c.f. Safir 2004; Reinhart & Reuland 1993; Pollard and Sag 1992). This paper takes a closer look at two prepositional phrase contexts in English and Norwegian, which seem to allow the reflexive pronoun when the PP superficially denotes directionality. With careful examination of the semantics of these constructions, it is shown that a vague notion of directionality evoked in the formal syntax notion of the functional projection PATH is insuffi cient to capture the data’s distribution pattern. The grammar must make reference to more detailed spatial configurations in order to model the real-world examples.
Abstract
The distribution of anaphoric pronouns in prepositional phrases has garnered much attention in the literature on antecedent binding since, contrary to fundamental binding principles, this syntactic environment appears to allow either reflexive or coreferential nonreflexive pronouns (c.f. Safir 2004; Reinhart & Reuland 1993; Pollard and Sag 1992). This paper takes a closer look at two prepositional phrase contexts in English and Norwegian, which seem to allow the reflexive pronoun when the PP superficially denotes directionality. With careful examination of the semantics of these constructions, it is shown that a vague notion of directionality evoked in the formal syntax notion of the functional projection PATH is insuffi cient to capture the data’s distribution pattern. The grammar must make reference to more detailed spatial configurations in order to model the real-world examples.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Advances in Comparative Germanic Syntax vii
-
Part I. Cartography and the left periphery
- On a ( wh -)moved Topic in Italian, compared to Germanic 3
- C-agreement or something close to it 41
- Uncharted territory? 59
- Bootstrapping verb movement and the clausal architecture of German (and other languages) 85
- A conjunction conspiracy at the West Germanic left periphery 119
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Part II. Word order and movement
- Reconsidering odd coordination in German 151
- The syntax and semantics of the temporal anaphor “then” in Old and Middle English 171
- Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’ 197
- Holmberg’s Generalization 219
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Part III. Thematic relations and NP realization
- The No Case Generalization 249
- The new impersonal as a true passive 281
- Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase 307
-
Part IV. Finiteness and modality
- Experiencers with (un)willingness 327
- Finiteness 357
- Index of subjects & languages 391
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Advances in Comparative Germanic Syntax vii
-
Part I. Cartography and the left periphery
- On a ( wh -)moved Topic in Italian, compared to Germanic 3
- C-agreement or something close to it 41
- Uncharted territory? 59
- Bootstrapping verb movement and the clausal architecture of German (and other languages) 85
- A conjunction conspiracy at the West Germanic left periphery 119
-
Part II. Word order and movement
- Reconsidering odd coordination in German 151
- The syntax and semantics of the temporal anaphor “then” in Old and Middle English 171
- Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’ 197
- Holmberg’s Generalization 219
-
Part III. Thematic relations and NP realization
- The No Case Generalization 249
- The new impersonal as a true passive 281
- Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase 307
-
Part IV. Finiteness and modality
- Experiencers with (un)willingness 327
- Finiteness 357
- Index of subjects & languages 391
