Helma Dik
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199279296
- eISBN:
- 9780191706905
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199279296.001.0001
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This book approaches word order in Greek tragic dialogue from the perspective of language rather than metre. The tragic poets engaged in mimesis of natural dialogue; therefore the analysis of the ...
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This book approaches word order in Greek tragic dialogue from the perspective of language rather than metre. The tragic poets engaged in mimesis of natural dialogue; therefore the analysis of the linguistic characteristics of the dialogue precedes exploration of the metrical dimension, on the assumption that poets would not be overly constrained by the iambic trimeter, which, after all, was the most natural speaking verse according to Aristotle. The book analyses the word order of tragic dialogue in pragmatic terms, arguing that, in sentences, words functioning as Topic (the ‘starting point’ of an utterance) or Focus (the most salient piece of information) will come early, and that other less important words will follow. Similarly, the position of adjectives within noun phrases is analysed as a function of their relative salience rather than in terms of their semantics. This approach aims to account for word order in sentences generally, but it also allows for a new interpretation of familiar phenomena in Greek, such as ‘postponed interrogatives’. The book concludes with a commentary on the word order in four passages of Sophocles' Electra.Less
This book approaches word order in Greek tragic dialogue from the perspective of language rather than metre. The tragic poets engaged in mimesis of natural dialogue; therefore the analysis of the linguistic characteristics of the dialogue precedes exploration of the metrical dimension, on the assumption that poets would not be overly constrained by the iambic trimeter, which, after all, was the most natural speaking verse according to Aristotle. The book analyses the word order of tragic dialogue in pragmatic terms, arguing that, in sentences, words functioning as Topic (the ‘starting point’ of an utterance) or Focus (the most salient piece of information) will come early, and that other less important words will follow. Similarly, the position of adjectives within noun phrases is analysed as a function of their relative salience rather than in terms of their semantics. This approach aims to account for word order in sentences generally, but it also allows for a new interpretation of familiar phenomena in Greek, such as ‘postponed interrogatives’. The book concludes with a commentary on the word order in four passages of Sophocles' Electra.
Helma Dik
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199279296
- eISBN:
- 9780191706905
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199279296.003.0002
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This chapter discusses the important difference between a given-new distinction on the one hand, and the concepts of Topic and Focus on the other. It introduces the basic concepts that form the ...
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This chapter discusses the important difference between a given-new distinction on the one hand, and the concepts of Topic and Focus on the other. It introduces the basic concepts that form the theoretical framework of the description of word order in Greek. It aims to provide sufficient background for the general classicist to follow the discussion in the coming chapters.Less
This chapter discusses the important difference between a given-new distinction on the one hand, and the concepts of Topic and Focus on the other. It introduces the basic concepts that form the theoretical framework of the description of word order in Greek. It aims to provide sufficient background for the general classicist to follow the discussion in the coming chapters.
Helma Dik
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199279296
- eISBN:
- 9780191706905
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199279296.003.0005
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This chapter argues that in both Sophocles and Euripides, questions show a distribution of pragmatically marked information over the clause that is compatible with a Topic-Focus-verb pattern. The ...
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This chapter argues that in both Sophocles and Euripides, questions show a distribution of pragmatically marked information over the clause that is compatible with a Topic-Focus-verb pattern. The majority of questions do not feature a Topic constituent, and the sole Focus constituent is the question word. Questions being interpreted as containing multiple Focus constituents are discussed. Most of these questions are in fact a character's emotional reaction to the situation they are confronted with, which sets them apart from the questions. The traditional problem of the postponed interrogative is also discussed.Less
This chapter argues that in both Sophocles and Euripides, questions show a distribution of pragmatically marked information over the clause that is compatible with a Topic-Focus-verb pattern. The majority of questions do not feature a Topic constituent, and the sole Focus constituent is the question word. Questions being interpreted as containing multiple Focus constituents are discussed. Most of these questions are in fact a character's emotional reaction to the situation they are confronted with, which sets them apart from the questions. The traditional problem of the postponed interrogative is also discussed.
Mara Frascarelli
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- June 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198815853
- eISBN:
- 9780191853449
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198815853.003.0009
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology, Historical Linguistics
This chapter deals with the acceptability and interpretation of referential null subjects (NSs) and compares consistent pro-drop in Italian with equivalent sentences in Finnish (a partial NS ...
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This chapter deals with the acceptability and interpretation of referential null subjects (NSs) and compares consistent pro-drop in Italian with equivalent sentences in Finnish (a partial NS language), in different syntactic constructions (matrix, completive, factive, and adverbial clauses). This leads to the formulation of an original proposal that opens new perspectives for future research. Specifically, based on the interpretive judgements of 273 native speakers of Finnish, it is shown that a Topic chain analysis (Frascarelli 2007) can (and should) be assumed in partial NS languages as well, and that ‘partiality’ cannot be explained through narrow syntactic constraints. The Locality requirement is thus re-proposed as an Interface Visibility Condition (IVC), according to which in partial NS languages a pro is preferably interpreted as referring to the closest overt link in a Topic chain. The Topic Criterion is thus proposed as a Macroparameter of NS languages and the necessity of a ‘graded analysis’ ascribed to the IVC (as a Mesoparameter).Less
This chapter deals with the acceptability and interpretation of referential null subjects (NSs) and compares consistent pro-drop in Italian with equivalent sentences in Finnish (a partial NS language), in different syntactic constructions (matrix, completive, factive, and adverbial clauses). This leads to the formulation of an original proposal that opens new perspectives for future research. Specifically, based on the interpretive judgements of 273 native speakers of Finnish, it is shown that a Topic chain analysis (Frascarelli 2007) can (and should) be assumed in partial NS languages as well, and that ‘partiality’ cannot be explained through narrow syntactic constraints. The Locality requirement is thus re-proposed as an Interface Visibility Condition (IVC), according to which in partial NS languages a pro is preferably interpreted as referring to the closest overt link in a Topic chain. The Topic Criterion is thus proposed as a Macroparameter of NS languages and the necessity of a ‘graded analysis’ ascribed to the IVC (as a Mesoparameter).
Silvio Cruschina
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780199677108
- eISBN:
- 9780191808821
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199677108.003.0034
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Language Families, Historical Linguistics
The main goal of this chapter is to provide a comparative overview of some of the principal aspects of information and discourse structure in Romance, covering such areas as the packaging of ...
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The main goal of this chapter is to provide a comparative overview of some of the principal aspects of information and discourse structure in Romance, covering such areas as the packaging of information structure according to the encoding of oppositions such as Topic-Comment, Topic-Focus, Given-New; the role and effects of illocutionary force (e.g., declarative, interrogative, exclamative), different clause types (thetic vs non-thetic predications), and the root vs embedded distinction in discourse organization; the encoding of the subject of predication; thematic progression in the realization of arguments; modal subordination and anaphora. Specific topics dealt with include: topic, focus, and sentence types; sentence-focus structures (unmarked word order; verb-subject inversion); predicate-focus structures and topicalization constructions (clitic left dislocation, hanging topic, clitic right dislocation); argument-focus structures and focalization constructions (postverbal focalization and cleft sentences, contrastive focus fronting, information focus fronting, mirative fronting, verum focus fronting, QP-fronting).Less
The main goal of this chapter is to provide a comparative overview of some of the principal aspects of information and discourse structure in Romance, covering such areas as the packaging of information structure according to the encoding of oppositions such as Topic-Comment, Topic-Focus, Given-New; the role and effects of illocutionary force (e.g., declarative, interrogative, exclamative), different clause types (thetic vs non-thetic predications), and the root vs embedded distinction in discourse organization; the encoding of the subject of predication; thematic progression in the realization of arguments; modal subordination and anaphora. Specific topics dealt with include: topic, focus, and sentence types; sentence-focus structures (unmarked word order; verb-subject inversion); predicate-focus structures and topicalization constructions (clitic left dislocation, hanging topic, clitic right dislocation); argument-focus structures and focalization constructions (postverbal focalization and cleft sentences, contrastive focus fronting, information focus fronting, mirative fronting, verum focus fronting, QP-fronting).
Idan Landau
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780262028851
- eISBN:
- 9780262327251
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028851.003.0005
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics
We briefly discuss a number of phenomena that illustrate potential consequences and extensions of the TTC. Partial and split control are only possible in logophoric complements, because predication ...
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We briefly discuss a number of phenomena that illustrate potential consequences and extensions of the TTC. Partial and split control are only possible in logophoric complements, because predication as such only permits a unique, exhaustive saturator. The puzzling case of "Actor Control" in Tagalog, normally presented as evidence that control must apply to semantic representations, may be analyzed as syntactic "topic control". Finally, recent evidence for controlled pronouns and reflexives (in Hungarian, Spanish and Korean), surfacing with focal stress, imply that minimal pronouns such as PRO may be spelled out under special circumstances.Less
We briefly discuss a number of phenomena that illustrate potential consequences and extensions of the TTC. Partial and split control are only possible in logophoric complements, because predication as such only permits a unique, exhaustive saturator. The puzzling case of "Actor Control" in Tagalog, normally presented as evidence that control must apply to semantic representations, may be analyzed as syntactic "topic control". Finally, recent evidence for controlled pronouns and reflexives (in Hungarian, Spanish and Korean), surfacing with focal stress, imply that minimal pronouns such as PRO may be spelled out under special circumstances.
Linda Badan and Francesca Del Gobbo
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780190210687
- eISBN:
- 9780190210717
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210687.003.0002
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter focuses on the even-construction in Mandarin Chinese and Italian and on the preposed object in the low periphery of Mandarin Chinese. The even-construction can play two roles, Focus and ...
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This chapter focuses on the even-construction in Mandarin Chinese and Italian and on the preposed object in the low periphery of Mandarin Chinese. The even-construction can play two roles, Focus and Topic, and so we can have, in Mandarin Chinese and in other languages, constructions that qualify syntactically as foci, but semantically as topics. The closest candidate for this type of construction is the bare preposed object in the low periphery of Mandarin, which has a low periphery consisting of two kinds of functional projections, the bare preposed object and the lian+XP—we demonstrate that the preposed object is not a focus, but a topic-like element. The chapter concludes by observing that the low periphery in Mandarin is articulated in projections that differ from those of the high periphery, and our investigation also highlights the fact that the notions of Topic and Focus are more fine-grained than what was originally thought.Less
This chapter focuses on the even-construction in Mandarin Chinese and Italian and on the preposed object in the low periphery of Mandarin Chinese. The even-construction can play two roles, Focus and Topic, and so we can have, in Mandarin Chinese and in other languages, constructions that qualify syntactically as foci, but semantically as topics. The closest candidate for this type of construction is the bare preposed object in the low periphery of Mandarin, which has a low periphery consisting of two kinds of functional projections, the bare preposed object and the lian+XP—we demonstrate that the preposed object is not a focus, but a topic-like element. The chapter concludes by observing that the low periphery in Mandarin is articulated in projections that differ from those of the high periphery, and our investigation also highlights the fact that the notions of Topic and Focus are more fine-grained than what was originally thought.
Candice Chi-Hang Cheung
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780190210687
- eISBN:
- 9780190210717
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210687.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
Wh-fronting constructions in Cantonese have counterparts in Mandarin that have been analyzed as either a type of Topic structure or Focus construction. One goal of this chapter is to argue that ...
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Wh-fronting constructions in Cantonese have counterparts in Mandarin that have been analyzed as either a type of Topic structure or Focus construction. One goal of this chapter is to argue that wh-fronting constructions in Cantonese are best analyzed as a type of Identificational Focus construction. The second goal of this chapter is to explore the fine structure of the left periphery in Cantonese and its implications for two prominent lines of research on the distribution of Topics and Foci. Specifically, the findings lend empirical support to one line of research that analyzes Topic and Focus as fields, contra the other line of research that analyzes Topics as a set of recursive projections occurring above and below a single Focus projection. The investigation further reveals that the inventory of Topics and Foci available in individual languages and their hierarchical order are the result of the interplay between language-specific and universal principles.Less
Wh-fronting constructions in Cantonese have counterparts in Mandarin that have been analyzed as either a type of Topic structure or Focus construction. One goal of this chapter is to argue that wh-fronting constructions in Cantonese are best analyzed as a type of Identificational Focus construction. The second goal of this chapter is to explore the fine structure of the left periphery in Cantonese and its implications for two prominent lines of research on the distribution of Topics and Foci. Specifically, the findings lend empirical support to one line of research that analyzes Topic and Focus as fields, contra the other line of research that analyzes Topics as a set of recursive projections occurring above and below a single Focus projection. The investigation further reveals that the inventory of Topics and Foci available in individual languages and their hierarchical order are the result of the interplay between language-specific and universal principles.