Syntax

Empty Noun Phrases and AnaphorsEmpty Noun Phrases and Anaphors

Created by :

1. Ayu Melati 2010.1250.1177

2. Maemunah 2010.1250.1169

Class : R4L

Covert Noun Phrases [e] and Their Antecedents

Anaphors

Some Possible Counterexamples

Example :

The director promised Peter [e] to visit that prison. container clause embedded clause

Predicate promised requires the antecedents of covert noun phrase to be the container clause subject. So, convert noun phrase [e] in the sentences refers to the director of prison.

The director persuaded Peter [e] to visit that prison. container clause embedded clause

Predicate persuaded requires the antecedents of covert noun phrase to be the container clause object. So, convert noun phrase [e] in the sentences refers to Peter.

So, covert noun phrases in the subject position of an embedded clause typically have to

have antecedent either the subject or the object of their container clause, depending on

the container clause predicate.

Covert Noun Phrases and Their Antecedents

Covert noun phrase can sometimes refer to someone or something not

mentioned elsewhere in the sentence, such as the speaker the addressee , or

indefinite form like anyone, anything, someone, or something.

For example :

It’s unusual [e] to see snow at this time of the year

We could replace the [e] in the example with anyone without changing the

sentence’s propositional content. However, we will need to introduce it with

the complementizer for.

It’s unusual for anyone to see snow at this time of the year.

Covert noun phrase can sometimes refer to someone or something not

mentioned elsewhere in the sentence, such as the speaker the addressee , or

indefinite form like anyone, anything, someone, or something.

For example :

It’s unusual [e] to see snow at this time of the year

We could replace the [e] in the example with anyone without changing the

sentence’s propositional content. However, we will need to introduce it with

the complementizer for.

It’s unusual for anyone to see snow at this time of the year.

Anaphors is a kind of pronoun that has its antecedet in the same minimal clause or

noun phrase.Here is an anaphors paradigm :

Anaphors is a kind of pronoun that has its antecedet in the same minimal clause or

noun phrase.Here is an anaphors paradigm :

PersonNumber

ReflexiveAnaphors

Reciprocal Anaphors

NP- Internal Reflexives

NP-Internal Reciprocals

Ist sgpl

MyselfOurselves

One another, each other

My own, Our own


2nd sgpl

Yourselfyourselves


Your own, your own


3rd sgpl

Himself, herself, itself,

oneself,themselves

One another, each other,


His, her, itsOne’s ownTheir own


Anaphors

Examples :

a)The cats washed themselves delicately.

b)Julian and his friend visited each other regularly.

c)Trudean washes his own hair.

Notice that in the acceptable sentences, the reflexive and reciprocal

anaphors occur in the same clauses as their antecedents, whereas in the

sentences asterisked as ungrammatical, the anaphors and antecedents are

in different clauses.

Anaphors must be bound by antecedents within their smallest clause,

whereas pronouns must be free of any antecedent in their smallest clause.

The two groups thus complement each other.

Examples :

a)The cats washed themselves delicately.

b)Julian and his friend visited each other regularly.

c)Trudean washes his own hair.

Notice that in the acceptable sentences, the reflexive and reciprocal

anaphors occur in the same clauses as their antecedents, whereas in the

sentences asterisked as ungrammatical, the anaphors and antecedents are

in different clauses.

Anaphors must be bound by antecedents within their smallest clause,

whereas pronouns must be free of any antecedent in their smallest clause.

The two groups thus complement each other.

A play that Marlowe wrote about Shakespeare’s treatment of him.The pronominal him could not have as its antecedent the noun phrase Shakespeare’s, because they both are in the smallest noun phrase, Shakespeare’s treatment of him. In contrast, Marlowe, which is not in the same small noun phrase, could be the antecedent.

A play that Marlowe wrote about Shakespeare’s treatment of himself.Here the only possible antecedent to bind himself is Shakespeare’s, which is within the same local domain noun phrase; himself cannot refer to Marlowe. The notion local domain is thus valid for anaphors too.

Some Possibble Counterexamples Example :

Faust persuaded Mephistopheles [e] to untie him. Container clause embedded clause

(predicate) (object) (CNP)

Predicate persuaded requires the antecedents of covert noun phrase [e] to be the container

clause object ,that is Mephistopheles. And also, covert noun phrase [e] as subject in the

embedded clause. So, the senteces isn’t really a counterexample because its antecedents

would be in the same local domain and personal pronoun him cannot have their antecedent

in the same clause.

Helen didn’t try [e] to free herself (container clause) (embedded clause)

Subject predicate CNP

Predicate try like promised requires the antecedents of covert noun phrase to be the container

clause subject, that is Helen . And also, the antecedents of the reflexive anaphors herself refers to

Helen. So. This sentences does not constitute a counterexample because its antecedents would

be in the same local domain and have their antecedents in the same clause. The other example :

Lauren didn’t promised [e] to free him.

This sentences is some possible counterexample because Predicate promised requires the

antecedents of covert noun phrase to be the container clause subject, that is Lauren. And him is

not refer to Lauren.

So, Counterexample is sentences which antecedents wouldn’t be in same local domain and not

in the same clause.

Counterparts in Other Language

A word listed as a meaning “himself or herself” in a dictionary of another language may have some properties very different from the apparent counterparts in English.

Example :

The anaphor himself in the following English sentence can only refer to Wangwu :

Zhangsan believed that Lisi knew that Wangwu had no confidence in himself.

But in the corresponding Mandarin sentence :

Zhangsan xiangxin [Lisi zhiadao [Wangwu dui ziji mei xinxin]].

Zhangsan believed [that Lisi knew [that Wangwu had no confidence in self]]. The anaphor ziji, “self” can refer to Wangwu, Lisi, or Zhangsan.

Conclusion convert noun phrases in the subject position of an embedded clause

typically have to have antecedent either the subject or the object of their container clause, depending on the container clause predicate.

Anaphors include reflexives like ourselves and reciprocals like one another. An anaphor must be bound (i.e. have an antecedent) within its local domain; a pronominal must be free within its local domain.

Speakers of other languages should find the general reference system of English not too difficult to acquire but would have to get used to different degrees of restrictiveness and differences in the use of pragmatic information.

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