The Syntax of Anaphora

by Ken Safir

Overview

In this work, Ken Safir develops a comprehensive theory on the role of anaphora in syntax. First, he contends that the complementary distribution of forms that support the anaphoric readings is not accidental, contrary to most current thinking, but rather should be derived from a principle, one that he proposes in the form of an algorithm. Secondly, he maintains that dependent identity relations are always possible where they are not prohibited by a constraint. Lastly, he proposes that there are no parameters of anaphora - that all anaphora-specific principles are universal, and that the patterns of anaphora across languages arise entirely from a restricted set of lexical properties. This comprehensive consideration of anaphora redirects current thinking on the subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195166132
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/08/2004
Series:	Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Ken Safir is Professor of Linguistics at Rutgers University. He is also the author of The Syntax of (In)Dependence (2003).