Binding (linguistics) - Distribution of Nominals Under Binding Theory

Distribution of Nominals Under Binding Theory

In the tradition of generative syntax, it is argued that all kinds of nouns can be classified by the combination of two features, and, features which are binary. The binding characteristics of a noun (or its corresponding empty category) are determined by the values of these features, either plus or minus. Thus, a noun that is is a referential-expression R-expr, such as a common noun or proper name. One that is is a pronoun, such as English he or they. is a reflexive, such as himself or themselves.

The actual requirements on where a type of noun can occur are given in three conditions A, B, and C (also referred to as principles).

Condition A states that an anaphor (reflexive) must have a local ("nearby") antecedent (expression that refers to the same entity). Thus, John washed himself obeys Condition A: the antecedent of himself, which is John, is nearby, and both refer to the person "John". In contrast, *John asked Mary to wash himself is unacceptable, because the reflexive and its antecedent are too far away from each other.

Condition B states that a pronoun can have an antecedent, as long as the antecedent is not local (i.e. "far away") or doesn't c-command the pronoun. Thus, John asked Mary to wash him obeys Condition B: John is the antecedent of him, and him is sufficiently far away; on the other hand, *John washed him, where John is intended to be the antecedent of him, is unacceptable.

Condition C states that an R-expression cannot have an antecedent that c-commands it. Thus, *He asked Mary to wash John, with the interpretation that He is the antecedent of John, is unacceptable.