Work

Anaphor binding and exceptional case-marking in Korean

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This paper empirically explores anaphor binding properties of exceptional case-marking (ECM) in Korean through a formal experiment: reflexive binding and reciprocal binding. We show that the accusative case of embedded subjects does not salvage the violation of matrix anaphor binding, suggesting that ECM subjects should originate and stay in the embedded clause. Based on the experimental findings, we argue that Korean ECM subjects, even if they undergo A-movement, move only up to the embedded Spec-CP, as there is no height effect of ECM concerning anaphor binding. With respect to matrix adverb modification supporting the higher-clause approach, we suggest that ECM subjects may undergo non-feature-driven A̅-scrambling to the matrix clause. Specifically, Korean ECM subjects enter into φ-feature agreement with the C head without feature inheritance, appearing in Spec-CP, and their case feature is valued as accusative by the matrix transitive verb.

Source: Poznań Studies in Contemporary Linguistics

DOI: 10.1515/psicl-2025-0024

Authors: Jeong-Seok Kim, Hyunsun Im, Yoo-Jeong Kim, Jee Young Lee

Institutions: Korea University, Cheongju University

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid:

Funder: Korea University