Names as complex indices: On apparent Condition C violations in Thai∗

Such examples are perfectly natural in Thai. A number of analyses have been proposed to account for them. For example, Lasnik (1989) suggests that the distinct characteristics of Thai R-expressions are due to parametric differences in Binding Theory, subject to a universal constraint that says a “more referential” noun phrase may not be bound by a “less referential” one, allowing binding by identical noun phrases. On the other hand, Lee (2003) argues that bound R-expressions in Thai are not really R-expressions, but are bound variables spelled out as exact copies of their antecedents. Finally, Larson (2006) proposes that bound R-expressions in Thai are actually syntactic pronouns, or qPs. This paper reconsiders the Thai facts in light of two generalizations about Thai binding first observed byHoonchamlong (1991), and argues that the apparent Condition C violations arise in Thai due to the exceptional semantics of a subclass of R-expressions in Thai. These noun phrases, including names, are interpreted as complex indices, analogous to indexicals (first and second person pronouns). Adopt the proposal of Sudo (2012) to account for these parallels, we show that Grodzinsky and Reinhart’s (1993) Rule I (Coreference Rule) provides a crosslinguistically robust account of Condition C.