M. Hepple. 1992. Command and Domain Constraints in a Categorial Theory of Binding. Proceedings of the Eighth Amsterdam Colloquium. pp 253-270. University of Amsterdam.

Abstract:

This paper presents a categorial account of binding, set within an extended version of the Lambek calculus. I address only cases where personal and reflexive pronouns are bound (i.e. excluding, for example, referential uses of personal pronouns). The paper focusses particularly on two classes of constraint that are observed to limit the possibilities for binding: {\it command} constraints, which relate to asymmetries that are observed for which phrase positions may bind which others (e.g. a verb's subject may bind its object but the converse is not possible), and {\it domain} constraints, which involve requirements on the dominating phrases within which a pronoun's antecedent must either be present or absent. These constraints have received a considerable amount of attention in attempts to formulate accounts of binding, and have presented particular problems for categorial accounts.

I first present a formulation of the Lambek calculus, before outlining the basis of the account of binding. Then, I show how the Lambek account may be adapted to appropriately characterise constraints on binding, addressing domain and command constraints in turn. The treatment of domain constraints involves extending the calculus with modal operators which may be used to specify `linguistic boundaries'. The treatment of command constraints is based on adapting the insight of Montague Grammar work, which links grammatical hierarchy to argument order. Finally, the resulting approach is illustrated by applying it to the problem of long-distance reflexivisation in Icelandic, a phenomenon of particular interest because of its unusual locality behaviour.