A Phase Theoretic Account of Coreference Relations in Picture DPs

In this paper, we demonstrate how a revised theory of coreference relations that relies on independently motivated elements of Phase Theory (Chomsky 2001, Chomsky 2004) predicts these empirically tested grammaticality judgments. 1. Background Our analysis assumes a version of Phase Theory (Chomsky 2001, Chomsky 2004). In Phase Theory, a derivation proceeds in phases, and the complement of a phase head is sent to Spell-Out separately from a phase edge, as required by the Phase Impenetrability Condition. Our analysis builds on work by Kayne (2002), who proposes that pronoun-antecedent coreference relations originate from base generation of a doubling constituent of the form [Spec Head] where the Spec is the antecedent and the head is the pronominal, as in (3a). A Spec can move out of a doubling constituent, but a head cannot. However, the Spec can only move out of a doubling constituent if the doubling constituent has moved. In addition, a reflexive DP (e.g., himself) contains a position for the doubling constituent to move to, as in (3b).