Pronoun Processing

Abstract

Using bibliometric analysis, this paper provides an overview of pronoun research from 2012 to 2022. It collected and analyzed 2,774 articles on pronouns from Web of Science (WoS) categories related to linguistics or language using CiteSpace, a citation analysis tool. This paper examined the intellectual framework and patterns of pronoun research through co-citation analysis and identified the most productive journals, influential articles, intellectual base, and trending topics in pronoun studies. The main intellectual base includes anaphora resolution, referring expression, grammatical category, eye movement, subject expression, and thematic analysis. Trending topics comprise studies on English pronouns, acquisition of pronouns, and information cues such as syntax and discourse that affect the comprehension of pronouns. The results reveal the complexity and diversity of pronoun processing. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion and debate on pronoun studies, helps researchers understand the state of pronoun research, and offers suggestions for relevant future research.