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Article published In:
Asian Languages and Linguistics
Vol. 4:1 (2023) ► pp.76–100

What makes the blocking effect happen?

ORCID logo | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa,
This study illustrates that for the Chinese bare form reflexive ziji ‘self’, feature conflicts can cause both the local binding blocking effect and the long-distance binding blocking effect. To make long-distance binding possible, a feature-matching requirement between the long-distance antecedent and the reindexed local reflexive must be met, as proposed by Tang (1989). In addition to this, a feature-matching requirement between the verb and its subject and object must also be satisfied, with the latter likely having a suppressive effect on the former. Further research is needed to understand the interaction of these two feature-matching requirements and what constraints exist. Furthermore, the blocking effect can be triggered by a variety of factors, including syntax, feature agreement, pragmatics, discourse prominence, animacy and thematic conditions and other combined effects. Ziji’s odd performance might be the result of their joint efforts. We need to further clarify how these factors work together.
Keywords: Binding Theory Principle A, local binding blocking effect, long-distance blocking effect, feature-matching requirement
Article outline
  • 1.Long distance reflexive ziji as a violation of Principle A of Binding Theory
  • 2.Why is long-distance binding possible?
  • 3.Binding Theory Principle A or local binding blocking effect
  • 4.Another type of long-distance blocking effect
  • 5.Chinese bare form reflexive ziji in Ba and Bei sentences
  • 6.Discussion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations and gloss conventions used
  • References
Published online: 6 July 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.22015.li
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