Anaphor or Pronominal?

Abstract

This paper examines the Korean caki and the Japanese zibun to determine whether they are anaphors or pronominals, applying the following three tests: (i) split antecedence; (ii) strict identity reading under VP ellipsis; (iii) disjoint reference effect. Interpretation of the plural markers, Korean tul and Japanese tati indicates that the split antecedence of cakitul and zibun-tati cannot be attributed to pronominal properties of caki and zibun, but to the property of the plural morphologies tul and tati, respectively. Furthermore, the impossibility of a strict identity reading under VP ellipsis supports the analysis that they are not referential pronouns. It is also shown that their non-adherence to anti-locality condition excludes the possibility that they are bound pronouns or referential pronouns, supporting the claim that they are anaphors.