Cleft partitionings in Japanese, Burmese and Chinese

Hole, Daniel; Zimmermann, Malte

doi:10.1075/la.208.11hol

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

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Contrastive focus-marking and nominalization in Northern Kampa (Arawak) of Peru

Mihas¹

2016

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This study examines the interaction of contrastive focus-marking with nominalization in bisected contrastive focus constructions of Alto Perené, a Kampa Arawak language of Peru. It also investigates morphosyntactic means of contrastive focus-marking in two neighboring Kampa languages, Ashéninka Pichis and Ashaninka Tambo. The languages are shown to employ various focus-marking strategies. The Alto Perené polar (truth value) focus construction shows a preference for nominalizing a lexical verb. In Ashaninka Tambo, the expression of polar and modal operator focus (the latter attested in negated clauses) does not require nominalization of the lexical verb, but in clefted content and polar questions and affirmative declarative clauses, nominalization is mandatory for the purpose of argument focusing. In Ashéninka Pichis, the argument focus-marking strategies include the syntactic movement of the focus constituent to the preverbal focus position and either an elision of the subject index on the verb, or inflecting the verb for stative aspect.

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Contrastive focus-marking and nominalization in Northern Kampa (Arawak) of Peru

Mihas¹

2016

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Mandarin exhaustive focus shì and the syntax of discourse congruence

Erlewine

2022

Studies in Language Companion Series

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This paper describes three constraints that together govern the distribution of the exhaustive focus marker shì in Mandarin Chinese. First, I argue that shì is a sentential focus particle that is subject to a requirement to adjoin as low as possible within its clause or phase. Second, I show that shì requires a congruent Question Under Discussion (QUD). Third and finally, I show that there are certain reduced clauses where shì is completely disallowed, although other focus particles such as ‘only’ may appear. To explain this last restriction, I propose that reference to a QUD is mediated by a functional head in the clause periphery. Shì is thus unavailable in reduced clauses which do not project this high functional layer.

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Copula functions in a cross-Sinitic perspective

Jin

2020

Folia Linguistica

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This paper investigates the distinct functions associated with the copula morpheme and their distribution across Sinitic languages. Based on fieldwork on five Sinitic languages, an empirical generalization will be presented regarding the scope and variation of copular multifunctionality. Specifically, language-specific variation is witnessed in topic and conditional marking as well as verum marking. Conversely, it is found that Sinitic languages converge on employing the copula in constructions expressing phrasal and clausal level focus. The paper further explores whether these copular constructions should receive a uniform syntax, or should be conceived of as having a set of underlaid heterogeneous structures.

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Cleft partitionings in Japanese, Burmese and Chinese

Abstract: This is a contribution from Cleft Structures. Edited by Katharina Hartmann and Tonjes Veenstra.

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

Contrastive focus-marking and nominalization in Northern Kampa (Arawak) of Peru

Contrastive focus-marking and nominalization in Northern Kampa (Arawak) of Peru

Mandarin exhaustive focus shì and the syntax of discourse congruence

Copula functions in a cross-Sinitic perspective

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