Multiple constraints modulate the processing of Chinese reflexives in discourse

Abstract

This study investigates the real-time processing of Chinese reflexives ziji and ta-ziji in discourse when multiple constraints are involved. Our primary goal is to examine the time course of syntactic and non-syntactic constraints in reflexive resolution. The Syntactic Filter Hypothesis argues that syntactic cues are prioritized at the early stages of processing, in contrast to the Multiple Constraints Hypothesis which posits that at this stage all streams of information can be recruited. The results of two self-paced reading experiments show that in neutral contexts where no antecedent is discourse-prominent, syntactic locality and verb semantics immediately impact real-time processing of ziji and ta-ziji. Crucially, participants’ processing patterns are also influenced at an early stage by the discourse topical status of the non-local antecedents. Overall, these findings suggest that syntax, verb semantics, and discourse prominence all play important roles at an early stage.

Chinese complex reflexive <em>ta-ziji</em> as an exempt anaphor

“…However, if the non-local subject is an empathized source, LD binding of taziji is allowed and even preferred. Thus, our results, coupled with previous comparative experimental research on ziji and ta-ziji (e.g., Lyu & Kaiser 2023), suggest that the exempt (i.e., nonlocal) use of ta-ziji is more restricted compared to the exempt use of ziji. Non-local ta-ziji is only licensed by (empathized) sources, whereas non-local ziji can be licensed by (empathized) nonsources as well (also see Huang & Liu 2001 inter alia for this point about ziji).…”

“…Another interesting finding from Liu is that ziji is more likely to allow exempt readings than ta-ziji. This was investigated further in our earlier study (Lyu & Kaiser 2023) which we turn to next.…”

“…The pronoun ta ('he'), which is coreferential with the discourse topic Xiaoming, is the potential non-local antecedent. Thus, the Topic Empathy Hierarchy predicts that people should be more likely to empathize with the perspective center Xiaoming than Prof. Wang (also see e.g., Oshima 2006;Lyu & Kaiser 2021, 2023 on the effectiveness of discourse topicality in inducing empathy with a non-local subject).…”

Comparing reflexive and personal pronouns in Chinese locative prepositional phrases

“…Nevertheless, contrasts like those between ( 9) and ( 10) suggest that ta-ziji may have a stronger locality bias than ziji. In line with this, Lu (2011) and Lyu & Kaiser (2023) report that ta-ziji is less sensitive to discourse factors that can push ziji to favor non-local antecedents, including topic prominence and contextual plausibility. Interestingly, however, ta-ziji has been shown to be preferred over ziji in some instances of non-local antecedence.…”

“…In fact, experimental work by Lyu & Kaiser (2023) shows that a non-local antecedent is also possible, and even preferred, across an animate intervener when coconstrual with the latter is ruled out by the semantics of the embedded verb. This is for instance the case in ( 12), where the verb chuipeng 'flatter' biases towards an other-oriented reading, and the preferred referent of ta-ziji is the chairman rather than Director Li.…”