Abstract:
This paper presents an in-depth examination of Thai wh-expressions as
variables. I claim that wh-expressions are variables with no inherent interrogative force. As variables, they acquire clifferent 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 probegoal 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 <4whJ 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 <4whJ 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 (NPl). In a yes-no construction, the goal matches the [polarity]
feature on the Qux,larityJ probe, functioning as an Existential Polarity Item (EPl).
The probe-goal relation is predictably constrained by the c-command relation and locality conditions.
