Ambiguity of Reflexives and Case Extension

  • Published : 2007.11.01

Abstract

It is suggested that the difference between co-referential and bound reflexive pronouns found in many languages can be accounted for by using the notion of the case extension of a type <1> quantifier. Given this proposal the co-referential pronouns get their meaning when the corresponding NP takes nominal case extension first. Bound reflexives are reflexivisers in the sense that they are not case extensions of quantifiers although they also transform binary relations into sets. Examples from Japanese and from Polish are discussed.

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