This book develops a pragmatic theory of anaphora within the neo-Gricean framework of conversational implicature. Chomsky claims that anaphora reflects underlying principles of innate Universal Grammar, and the view is widely held that only syntactic and semantic factors are crucial to intrasentential anaphora. Yan Huang questions the basis of the Government and Binding approach and argues that syntax and pragmatics are interconnected in determining many anaphoric processes. Furthermore, he proposes that the extent to which syntax and pragmatics interact varies typologically. There exists a class of language (such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean) in which pragmatics play a central role that in familiar European languages is alleged to be played by grammar. Yan Huang's pragmatic theory has far reaching implications for this important issue in theoretical linguistics.

Preface; Abbreviations used in glosses; 1. A neo-Gricean pragmatic theory and anaphora; Part I. Anaphora in Government and Binding Theory: 2. Empty categories; 3. Control; 4. Long-distance reflexivisation; Part II. The Pragmatic Theory of Anaphora: 5. A neo-Gricean pragmatic theory of anaphora; 6. Further applications of the theory; 7. Anaphoric production in conversation; 8. Anaphoric resolution in conversation; 9. Conclusions; Notes; References; Index of names; Index of languages; Index of subjects.