Department of Linguistics

Syntax Lunch: Taisuke Nishigauchi & Maki Kishida

Reflexive Binding and Attitude `de se'

4 September, 1108B MMH, 5:15pm

Abstract

In this presentation, we develop an analysis of reflexive binding involving the reflexive `zibun' in Japanese. We argue that the reflexive `zibun' is bound by a POV (point of view) holder that minimally c-commands `zibun'. The POV holder is defined as an argument (typically subject and Experiencer) that can be a locus of `de se' belief.

1. There are no predicates which are lexically specified as being inherently reflexive in combination with `zibun.' Then, `zibun' is not an SE-anaphor.

2. Some predicates are lexically specified as being anti-reflexive: Some predicates are incapable of hosting POV holders thus defined in combination with `zibun' and we call such predicates `anti-reflexive' predicates, which are marked as such in the lexicon.

`De se' interpretation plays a key role in both local and long distance binding of `zibun.' We will show this by analysing along this line the following phenomena: (i) backward reflexivization in causative constructions, (ii) reflexive binding by non-c-commanding antecedents, (iii) desiderative and evidential constructions.