beyond linear order help predict where pronouns can appear? Binding domains The following three subsections consider the binding domains that are relevant for the distribution of pronouns and nouns in English. The discussion follows the outline provided by the traditional binding theory (see below), which divides nominals into three basic categories: reflexive and reciprocal pronouns, personal pronouns, and nouns (common and proper). Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns ("anaphors") When one examines the distribution of reflexive pronouns and reciprocal pronouns (which are often subsumed under the general category of "anaphor"), one sees that there are certain domains that are relevant, a "domain" being a syntactic unit that is clause-like. Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns often seek their antecedent close by, in a binding domain that is local, e.g. a. Fredi praises himselfi. – Indicated reading obligatory b. *Fredi praises himi. – Indicated reading impossible a. The girlsi like each otheri. – Indicated reading obligatory b. *The girlsi like themi. – Indicated reading impossible These examples illustrate that there is a domain within which a reflexive or reciprocal pronoun should find its antecedent. The a-sentences are fine because the reflexive or reciprocal pronoun has its antecedent within the clause. The b-sentences, in contrast, do not allow the indicated reading, a fact illustrating that personal pronouns have a distribution that is different from that of reflexive and reciprocal pronouns. A related observation is that a reflexive and reciprocal pronoun often cannot seek its antecedent in a superordinate clause, e.g. a. Susan thinks that Jilli should praise herselfi. – Indicated reading (almost) obligatory b. ??Susani thinks that Jill should praise herselfi. – Indicated reading very unlikely a. They asked whether the girlsi like each otheri. – Indicated reading (almost) obligatory b. ??Theyi asked whether the girls like each otheri. – Indicated reading very unlikely When the reflexive or reciprocal pronoun attempts to find an antecedent outside of the immediate clause containing it, it fails. In other words, it can hardly seek its antecedent in the superordinate clause. The binding domain that is relevant is the immediate clause containing it. Personal pronouns Personal pronouns have a distribution that is different from reflexive and reciprocal pronouns, a point that is evident with the first two b-sentences in the previous section. The local binding domain that is decisive for the distribution of reflexive and reciprocal pronouns is also decisive for personal pronouns, but in a different way. Personal pronouns