Focus Fronting In My Latest
From: | Jeffrey Jones <jsjonesmiami@...> |
Date: | Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 0:39 |
A focused argument moves to the start of the clause. Focused arguments
include query (WH-question) words and contrasting phrases. The rest of the
clause is asserted. There are a couple of interesting things here:
(1) the verb is preceded by the same word used as a definite article,
(2) the verb acts like a noun or adject with regard to actant morphology.
Examples:
3.(saw)-3A Def 3.(dog) 3.John --- "John saw the dog." (no fronting)
Int 3.John Def 3.(saw)-3A Def 3.(dog) --- "Was it John that saw the dog?"
3.(dog) Def 3H-(saw)-3A 3.John --- "It was a dog that John saw."
3.(who) Def 3.(saw)-3A Def 3.(dog) --- "Who saw the dog."
3. 3rd person
-3A 3rd person animate
3H- 3rd person, makes word a head wrt this argument
Def definite article
Int interrogative particle
Criticism is welcome
Jeff