Anaphora in Japanese: Kare and Zibun

Abstract

In this paper I will present a preliminary examination of two forms that participate in anaphoric relation in Japanese, i.e., reflexive zibun 'self' and pronominal kare 'he'. As such, the objective is not so much to argue for or propose definite solutions to the problems any of them may pose, as to clarify the nature of the problems involved. Section 1 examines two properties which have been ascribed to zibun, one having to do with c- command relation as suggested by Hasegawa (1981a), and the other, the widely held subject- antecedent condition. Additionally we will also see how discourse factors affect the interpretation of zibun. Section 2 deals with kare in connection with Oshima's (1979) Disjoint Reference analysis of it, as well as to Chomsky's (1979a) Binding Theory.