The Extended Binding Theory of Anaphors

Abstract

Chomsky (1981) proposed (1) as the binding theory for anaphors and pronominais. (l) (A) An anaphor is bound in its governing category. (B) A pronominal is free in its governing category. (i) β is a governing category for a if and only if {3 is the minimal category containing a, a governor of a, and a SUBJECT accessible to α. (ii) A SUBJECT is AGR or the subject of an infinitive, a gerund, an NP or a small clause. (iii) α is accessible to β if and only if β is in the c-command domain of α and assignment to β of the index of a would not violate * [ r…δ…']' where r and δ bear the same index.