Forms of address, performative prefixes, and the syntax-pragmatics interface.

Forms of address must be pronominal in English but can be either pronominal or nominal in Vietnamese. I propose to analyze this fact as a parametric difference: the two languages choose different ways to implement one and the same general preference principle. This principle is Rule I, which favors binding over coreference. For English, Rule I compares bound and free expressions. For Vietnamese, Rule I compares bound and free pronouns. The analysis crucially relies on the hypothesis that speech acts are represented in the syntax. • There is a typological distinction between languages which allow nominal reference to discourse participants and languages that do not. • This distinction derives from a parametric difference. • English compares free and bound expressions while Vietnamese compares free and bound pronouns. • Speech acts are represented in the grammar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]