| Summary: | This dissertation presents an in-depth examination of Thai wh-expression as variables. I claim
that wh-expressions are variables with no inherent interrogative force. As variables, they
acquire different interpretations in different contexts. A syntactic relation between the operator
and the variable is implemented in terms of the probe-goal relation (Chomsky 2000). The
probe-goal relation is established by the operation of Match. In Thai, a goal (as a variable) is
"underspecified" for featural content. A feature specified on the probe is copied onto the
underspecified goal, thereby satisfying feature matching.
In wh-contexts, the probe is identified as a covert interrogative Q[[sub wh]]. The [wh] feature of the
probe Q is copied onto the underspecified goal. I argue that the probe-goal relation is
established via Match (without Move). The covert Q[[sub wh]] probe is base-generated in C. In the
context of negation, a goal matches the [neg] feature on the Neg probe, hence functioning as a
Negative Polarity Item (NPI). In a yes-no construction, the goal matches the [polarity] feature
on the Q[[sub polarity]] probe, functioning as an Existential Polarity Item (EPI). The probe-goal relation
is predictably constrained by the c-command relation and locality conditions.
In addition to wh in-situ, it appears there is also partial and long-distance wh-movement in Thai.
However, contrary to superficial appearances, I argue that the probe-goal relation in Thai does
not involve Move. In particular, I show that apparent cases of movement actually involve two
distinct types of cleft constructions. The first I analyze as reduced contrastive wh-clefts with
bare wh-expressions. The second I analyze as reduced identificational wh-clefts with D-linked
wh-expressions. Semantically and syntactically, contrastive wh-clefts differ from
identificational wh-clefts. Contrastive wh-clefts are formed with the overt copula (pen), a
definite marker (t[sup h]î) and a nominalized clause. Identificational wh-clefts, on the other hand, are
formed with the overt copula (k[sup h]i) and a relative clause. === Arts, Faculty of === Linguistics, Department of === Graduate
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