This paper aims to explore the well-known preference phenomena in natural languages in terms of the c-command relations. It is found that the use of the two types of antecedents in anaphoric constructions receive a natural account under the proposed C-command Conditions. It is proposed that, the DP which c-commands all the members of the chain of the reflexive is preferred over the DP which c-commands the partial members of the reflexive s chain. This paper further investigates into the phenomenon of non-antecedence of the Chinese monomorphemic reflexive by the object, and has found that it is due to the language-specific parametric properties. This paper then provides a unified account of the preference matter in the anaphoric sentences in terms of the interactions of the proposed Constraints that are actively operative in the human mind.
1. Introduction
2. Preference Phenomena
3. C-command Conditions
4. Conclusion