Chinese Reflexives Within The Framework Of Minimalist Program

It is well known that Chinese reflexives can be divided into two major categories: complex reflexives and simple reflexive "ziji". Compared with English reflexives, Chinese reflexives, especially the simple reflexive "ziji" have their own distinctive features with regard to binding possibilities and referential properties. The present work takes Chinese reflexives as its object of the research, analyzing and interpreting the binding features of them, especially the simple reflexive "ziji". The aim of my present research is to probe into and find the cause for these unique binding features and in the field of syntax, and on the basis of Reinhart Tanya & Reuland Eric's (1993) reformulation for the definition for reflexive predicates and by means of feature-checking theory, interprets the distinctive binding features of Chinese "ziji" and the features of Chinese complex reflexives which are regarded as the English counterparts within the MP framework, trying to provide a unified account for the interpretation of the binding features of Chinese reflexives, simple one and complex ones included.Aiming at the interpretation of the distinctive binding features of Chinese "ziji", the paper spreads centering around the following three major questions: â‘  How does a reflexive predicate form? â‘¡ How will the formal reflexive [+REFL] features of the reflexive predicate get checked? â‘¢ In the process of feature checking, how will the reflexive "ziji" choose its antecedent?This paper consists of four chapters. Chapter 1 conducts a brief comparative study on the binding features of English reflexives and those of the Chinese reflexives,including complex reflexives and simple reflexive "ziji", finding the distinctive binding features of Chinese "ziji". Chapter 2 reviews the relevant studies on the binding features of Chinese reflexive "ziji" conducted within the GB framework and MP framework respectively. Chapter 3 puts forward the theoretical framework and way of analysis that are to be used for the interpretation of the distinctive binding features of "ziji" in my present research. Chapter 4 applies the new way of analysis put forward in Chapter 3 and rather successfully interprets the unique features of Chinese "ziji".According to Reinhart Tanya & Reuland Eric's (1993) reformulation for the definition for reflexive predicates, this paper holds that the formal reflexive [+REFL] features of the predicate must be checked against the reflexive which makes it a must for the reflexive to move at LF to the [Spec, VP] position to check features against the verb and the subject. In Chapter 4, in the process of interpretation, it is found that the binding features and referential properties are determined by the Phi-features of the NPs or DPs within the checking domain of the reflexive predicate. After a careful analysis and study, this paper argues that the distinctive binding features of Chinese reflexives are the result of absence or presence of the disagreement on formal Phi-features, especially [+Person] and [+Number] agreement features on the reflexive and its potential antecedents in the checking domain of the reflexive predicate.