Binding Theory Research Articles

Scrambling and Binding in Korean: An Experimental Investigation

This article provides an experiment-based study on scrambling involved in binding. There have been a large number of attempts to analyze scrambling in terms of A/A’-distinctions. These analyses are dependent upon the canonical Binding Theory(BT). Binding relations, however, do not always determine which copy of a scrambled phrase is interpreted. Besides, different acceptability judgments on the same sentence among researchers have been one of the impediments to proposing a far-reaching theory regarding scrambling. For this reason, this paper conducted an acceptability judgment testing to scrutinize the mixed nature of scrambling and binding. In the experiment, ‘scrambling effects’ are observed in all but one of the conditions; it suggests that scrambling-involved data can be analyzed by means of the inactiveness of the base copy. The parallels of the pronoun ku and the anaphor caki observed in scrambled contexts support the idea that the dependence on the BT for understanding the nature of scrambling is problematic.

Anaphors in Ikwuano Igbo: Binding Theory Approach

This work investigates Anaphors in Ikwuano Igbo. Anaphoric expressions are useful in the meaningful interpretations of NPs in a discourse. This study adopts the Binding Theory (BT) approach of GB syntax in examining anaphoric expressions in Igbo. Data for this work were elicited from native speakers of Ikwuano in Ikwuano area of Abia State, Nigeria. This paper was verified for cross-referencing purposes given the researcher’s native speaking intuition and introspection. This study investigates anaphors and antecedents and also demonstrates the concepts of C-command and binding, among others in Ikwuano Igbo. The work reveals that Ikwuano Igbo has two types of anaphors- the reflexive and the reciprocal anaphors. The study demonstrates that the binding theory investigates the syntactic relationship that can or must hold between a given proform and its antecedent. In this respect, anaphors (reflexive and reciprocal pronouns) behave very differently from personal pronouns. The work demonstrates the concepts of binding, Co-indexation, Co-referentiality, locality constraint and C-constituent command to show dependency between the antecedents and the anaphors in Ikwuano Igbo. This paper also reveals that Ikwuano Igbo has anaphoric expressions that do not mark gender. The Binding Theory shows that the antecedent and the anaphor occur in the same governing category. Also it shows that a pronominal must be free in its governing category and an R-expression must be free everywhere in a sentence according to the regulating principles of the Theory. This paper reveals the descriptive nature of antecedent- anaphor relationship in the study of syntactic structures for grammaticality.

Covaluation and Unexpected BT Effects

It is argued that binding theory (BT) must recognize two types of covaluation: the familiar type, which holds between two NPs when they have the same semantic value, and a new type, which holds between two NPs when one of them denotes an attitude holder and the other the 'self' of the attitude holder. This is shown to account for the acceptability of 'de re' reflexive pronouns and unacceptability of some 'de re' non-reflexive pronouns. Alternative theories, which attempt to preserve the standard BT, are also discussed.

On Efik Nouns

This paper investigates nouns, and other constructions with nouns as heads (noun phrases) in Efik, using the framework of one of the modules of universal grammar, Binding Theory (BT). It examines among other things, the grammatical properties of nouns, their various projections and application to BT in the language. The study discovers that pronominal elements and referential expressions are free in their respective governing categories, in relation to the Binding of NP structures in Efik. KEY WORDS: Binding, Government, Grammar, Noun and Noun Phrase Global Journal of Humanities Vol.3(1&2) 2004: 33-38

Extensional flow of polymeric dispersions

AbstractA general‐purpose extensional flow mixer, EFM, was recently introduced. To improve the understanding of its performance and potentials, several fundamental studies were initiated. These can be divided into two groups: (i) studies of the model drop deformation and breakup, and (ii) studies of the flow through EFM. Experimental, theoretical, and numerical methods (finite or boundary element methods, FEM or BEM, respectively) have been employed. The paper summarizes these efforts. The experimental study of flow of Newtonian and viscoelastic drops through a slit showed a difference in deformability. Initially, the former are reluctant to deform, but then deformaiton is rapid, whereas the viscoelastic drops initially deform readily, but then the deformation slows down. The slit flow does not flatten drops with diameters at least ten‐fold smaller than the slit gap. A comparison of the experimental data with the BEM 2‐D simulation showed that BEM provides good description of deformability. The effects of shear and elongation stress, the viscosity ratio, the drop diameter to channel gap ratio, the initial drop position, the interfacial tension coefficient, and elasticity of the dispersed phase were examined using the BEM. Simulation of flow through EFM was carried out using either FEM or Binding's theory. Both methods are suitable for computing the pressure losses and the stress fields. Analysis of flow lines can be used for optimization of the mixer's geometry.

Anaphoric indices and inalienable possession in Brazilian Portuguese

From the introduction: "In this squib, I want to draw attention to some previously unnoticed but intriguing facts about inalienably possessed NPs (INPs) in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). I argue that these differ from both pronouns and anaphors in that (i) they must always be c-commanded in their minimal Complete Functional Complex (CFC) by an argument with an independent θ-role and (ii) the Binding Theory (BT) applies to IPNPs algorithmically: first the BT attempts to treat them as anaphors; if successful, the BT is satisfied; if not, then it treats them as pronouns."