12: Functional And Anaphoric Control

Abstract

This chapter explores the syntax and semantics of functional and anaphoric control, constructions in which either syntactic or lexical constraints require conference between an argument of the matrix clause and an argument of a subordinate or modifying adjunct clause. It reviews some new proposals for the syntactic and semantic treatment of functional and anaphoric control constructions. The chapter discusses how the anaphoric control relation is established between the matrix controller and the subordinate clause SUBJ. Some equi verbs in Tagalog involve functional rather than anaphoric control. English equi verbs such as try or persuade participate in the obligatory anaphoric control construction, where the referent of the controlled subordinate clause SUBJ is determined by constraints associated with the matrix verb. The chapter talks about the Warlpiri kurra and karra constructions, both of which exemplify anaphoric control.