LINGUIST List 21.3741 Wed Sep 22 2010 Diss: Syntax: Hicks: 'The Derivation of Anaphoric Relations' Editor for this issue: Mfon Udoinyang <mfonlinguistlist.org> To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm. Directory         1.    Glyn Hicks, The Derivation of Anaphoric Relations Message 1: The Derivation of Anaphoric Relations Date: 21-Sep-2010 From: Glyn Hicks <Glyn.Hickssoton.ac.uk> Subject: The Derivation of Anaphoric Relations E-mail this message to a friend Institution: University of York Program: Department of Language and Linguistic Science Dissertation Status: Completed Degree Date: 2006 Author: Glyn Hicks Dissertation Title: The Derivation of Anaphoric Relations Linguistic Field(s): Syntax Subject Language(s): Dutch (nld)                             English (eng)                             Icelandic (isl)                             Norwegian, Bokmål (nob) Dissertation Director: George Tsoulas Bernadette Plunkett Dissertation Abstract: This thesis develops an analysis of the binding theory within the Minimalist approach to the architecture of the language faculty. As an expression of the principles governing the distribution and referential dependencies of reflexives, pronouns, and referential-expressions, the binding theory has proved a highly successful and influential outcome of the generative programme. However, given the central Minimalist conjecture that the computational system is strictly derivational (non-representational), the binding theory has become one of the most problematic modules of the grammar, relying crucially on syntactically active constraints defined over representations of sentences. I aim to capture a range of crosslinguistic empirical facts previously attributed to Conditions A and B of the binding theory, armed only with purely derivational concepts and a generalised derivational domain: the 'phase'. It is argued that binding relations are essentially determined in the computational component of the grammar, and substantial evidence is provided against viewing the binding conditions as interpretive instructions applying at LF. I argue that the binding conditions' effects can instead be determined by the core operations Agree and Merge, with previously stipulated constraints on binding, including C-command and locality, falling out naturally from this analysis. Moreover, the strategy of reducing the local binding conditions to more general mechanisms leads to an elimination of the binding theory as a component of Universal Grammar. Independently motivated modification to the canonical implementation of the Minimalist model are shown to furnish the approach with sufficient flexibility to account for some long-problematic empirical phenomena. This includes a complete treatment of 'picture-noun' reflexivisation in English and an account of the syntactic environments giving rise to non-complementarity between anaphors and pronouns. Finally, proposals are made for extending the approach to accommodate structured crosslinguistic variation in binding domains and orientation phenomena, with particular focus on Dutch, Norwegian, and Icelandic pronominal systems. Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue Page Updated: 22-Sep-2010       About LINGUIST    |   Contact Us       While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.