Null Subjects Are Reflexives, Not Pronouns

Abstract. It has been a prevalent assumption in the literature that phonetically null Subjects of finite clauses are pronouns. This paper examines in detail this empirical generalization and argues that null Subjects are reflexives rather than pronouns. The critical point at stake here, which has obscured appropriate classification, is that null Subjects are reflexives in top-command positions, i.e. reflexives that have no immediate local commanders. The key issue is thus the observation that, for at least some languages, a top-command reflexive obeys Principle A but with respect to a reshuffled local domain, which is the local domain of the upstairs predicator immediately subcategorizing the predicational domain where the top-command reflexive occurs. Given that the anaphoric binding discipline of reflexives in such positions partially overlaps the binding discipline of pronouns, this gave rise to the mistaken classification.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: DAARC
• Authors: António Horta Branco
• Keywords: Algorithms, DAARC 2007, Local Domain, Null Subjects, Top-command Reflexive