What does this research mean for the field?

The extent and limits of anaphoric pronominal reference in non-pro-drop languages are determined by the gradient status of topichood, where anaphora is felicitous for highly topical referents across long spans but problematic for non-topical referents even at short spans. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To establish the functional boundaries and constraints of anaphoric versus anadeictic pronominal reference in non-pro-drop languages relative to discourse topichood.

August 30, 2026LinguaOpen Access

Upper and lower limits of pronominal reference in discourse: topichood, anaphora and anadeixis

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Authors

FCFrancis CornishUniversité Toulouse - Jean Jaurès

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Implication

Discourse analysis uncovers the limits of pronominal reference in English and French, suggesting that discourse topics possess a gradient rather than categorical status.

Key Points

To establish the functional boundaries and constraints of anaphoric versus anadeictic pronominal reference in non-pro-drop languages relative to discourse topichood.
Contrasted the functional mechanisms of canonical anaphora (entity continuity) and anadeixis (re-referencing faded or non-topical entities).
Evaluated polar discourse spans in English and French text examples, including immediate retrieval from background clauses and long-distance resumption across intervening topics.
Immediate retrieval of backgrounded, non-topical entities using 3rd-person pronouns or null anaphors introduces an interpretive hiatus, whereas anadeictic expressions provide felicitous reference.
High-level macro-discourse topics permit felicitous long-range resumption via canonical anaphoric pronouns despite substantial spans of intervening local topics.
Demonstrated that topichood functions as a gradient property rather than a binary feature in determining pronoun acceptability.

Cite This Study

Francis Cornish (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a93efc06c1a8fb52e79bd6c https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2026.104250

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Implication

Discourse analysis uncovers the limits of pronominal reference in English and French, suggesting that discourse topics possess a gradient rather than categorical status.

Upper and lower limits of pronominal reference in discourse: topichood, anaphora and anadeixis

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Upper and lower limits of pronominal reference in discourse: topichood, anaphora and anadeixis

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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