A corpus-based study on the anaphoric relation of Chinese reflexive “Ziji”

Abstract

This study explores how the anaphoric relation of ziji across different constructions (eg., N1+V1+N2+V2+ziji/ziji de Noun, N1+ 把ba+N2+V.+ziji de +Noun., N1. + preposition +N2+ V.+ ziji) when there are two antecedents. It aims to figure out under what conditions ziji refers to the local or long-distance antecedent and when ambiguity arises, allowing it to potentially refer to both. Furthermore, this study examines how the anaphoric reference of ziji differs depending on its syntactic position (e.g., object position, modifier of the object, subject position, and modifier of the subject). Firstly, this study reveals that in the construction “N1 + 把 ba + N2 + VP + ziji de + Noun,” the interaction among internal elements and interfaces falls between the constructions “N1+preposition+N2+VP+ziji/ziji de + Noun” and “N1+V1+N2+V2+ziji/ziji de + Noun”. On the one hand, ziji in this construction exhibits strong subject orientation, similar to the former. On the other hand, its binding properties are influenced by multiple factors, reflecting complex interactions among internal elements and interfaces—similar to the latter. In terms of the continuum of complexity in the interaction among internal elements and interfaces exhibited by these three constructions, the semantics of the verb or verb phrase has a very strong influence on the syntax. When the verb phrase semantics imply a complete control of the subject over the object—where the object lacks any initiative and the subject exerts complete control either over the outcome of the change or over both the direction and the outcome of the movement—the binding property of ziji in the construction “N1 + 把 ba + N2 + VP + ziji de + Noun” behaves in exactly the same way as in the construction “N1+preposition+N2+VP+ziji/ziji de + Noun,” where the noun (N2) following the preposition also lacks initiative. In both cases, ziji demonstrates strong subject orientation, allowing syntax to exert maximal control over the construction. However, In the construction “N1 + 把 ba+ N2 + VP + ziji de + Noun,” a certain degree of initiative is granted to the patient (N2) when the agent performs an action on the patient that results in a change in the patient’s position. The patient can move into the agent’s place or their own place or move out from either the agent’s place or their own place. In this context, if the verb phrase semantics do not inherently imply strong subject-object control, ambiguity arises. Under these circumstances, syntactic control is restricted, we must rely on other pragmatic and contextual factors to disambiguate the reference of ziji’s reference. Secondly, when used alone without a corresponding pronominal subject (e.g., “himself” without “he”), a reflexive pronoun typically cannot function as the subject of a sentence in English. In contrast, the Chinese reflexive ziji can stand alone in the subject position. This feature, combined with Chinese’s topic-prominent nature, gives rise to distinct binding properties for ziji. When ziji appears as the subject in a clause within a topic chain, it is unambiguously coreferential with the chain-initial subject and exhibits strong topic orientation. Moreover, the interpretation of ziji’s referent in a topic chain conforms to the I-principle. Thirdly, in the constructions “N1 + V1 + N2 + V2 + ziji/ziji de Noun” and “N1 + V1 + N2 + V2 + ziji/ziji de Noun + VP3,” whether ziji appears as an object, an object modifier, a subject, or a subject modifier, its binding properties are influenced by all elements within the construction, revealing intricate connections among them. This study argues that ziji’s unique behavior stems from fundamental differences in how English and Chinese encode self-directed and other-directed features. While English syntactically distinguishes between these features, Chinese does not, resulting in ziji’s binding properties being shaped by both lexical-level and discourse-level distinctions. Fourthly, in Chinese, the reflexive pronoun ziji can modify a noun and function possessively. In the construction “N1 + V1 + N2 + V2 + ziji/ziji de Noun,” this possessive usage allows for adjustments to the object and introduces a third person to satisfy the feature-matching requirement. As a result, it can transform a non-reflexive predicate into a reflexive one, thereby eliminating the blocking of locally construed reading of ziji. This possessive usage also enables ziji to co-occur with so-called 不可对人动词 buke duiren dongci ‘verbs that cannot act on people.’