More binding theory

Certain expressions, reflexive pronouns, must be bound in certain limited grammatical environments. In other words, they have to be matched with an expression in certain special ways.

1. Taro wants to improve himself.

wantsanaphor1
In this example, himself must be matched with Taro. It’s no problem. Taro is higher up in a tensed clause. We could also say that Taro is the logical subject of the [- tense clause] [to improve himself].

2. Taro wants Hanako to like him.

wantsanaphor2
In this example, him can be matched with Taro even though Taro is the subject of the tensed clause. The logical subject of the [-tense clause] [to like him] is Hanako.

3. *Taro wants Hanako to like himself.

wantsanaphor3
This example is NO GOOD. Hanako is the logical subject of the [-tense clause] [to like himself] so the reflexive pronoun himself cannot match with Taro.

4. Taro wants Hanako to like herself.

4 is fine. Hanako is the logical subject of the -tense clause [to like herself] and the reflexive pronoun herself can successfully match with Hanako.

5. He gave her a picture of himself.

6. He gave her a picture of him.

picture1
In this example, himself must be matched with the subject He. The NP her does not interfere in any way. It seems as if it does not block the reference because it is not higher up — it’s not a subject.

He can match himself in 5. In sentence 6, He and him cannot match.

7. He wants her to see a picture of him.

picture2
This sentence is good with He and him matching, even though He is in the same tensed clause. The presence of the logical subject her in the [-tense clause] makes a big difference.

8. ??He wants her to see a picture of himself.

9. ??I want you to see a picture of myself.

10. I want you see a picture of me.

picture3
This sentence is NOT VERY GOOD. The presence of her as logical subject of the [-tense clause] [to see a picture of himself] means that the reflexive pronoun himself cannot match He very easily.

8 and 9 are not very good. 10 is fine.

It seems that, when matching expressions, the presence of a logical subject makes a difference. How do we explain the presence of a logical subject? Has something been moved from that position? Or is the verb wants controlling things by matching its object with the logical subject of the [-tense clause]?

Anyway, have a look at my PowerPoint slides about Binding Theory. Or check out the YouTube movie below.