The Syntax of Topic, Focus, and Contrast

Reiko Vermeulen

ISBN 10: 161451156X / ISBN 13: 9781614511564

Verlag: De Gruyter, US, 2012

Beschreibung

This book addresses how core notions of information structure (topic, focus and contrast) are expressed in syntax. The authors propose that the syntactic effects of information structure come about as a result of mapping rules that are flexible enough to allow topics and foci to be expressed in a variety of positions, but strict enough to capture certain cross-linguistic generalisations about their distribution. In particular, the papers argue that only contrastive topics and contrastive foci undergo movement and that this is because such movement has the function of marking the scope of contrast. Several predications are derived from this proposal: such as that a focus cannot move across a topic - whether the latter is in situ or not. Syntactic and semantic evidence in support of this proposal is presented from a wide range of languages (including Dutch, English, Japanese, Korean and Russian) and theoretical consequences explored. The first chapter not only outlines its theoretical aims, but also provides an introduction to information structure. As a consequence, the book is accessible to advanced students as well as professional linguists.

Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers LU-9781614511564

Bibliografische Details

• Titel: The Syntax of Topic, Focus, and Contrast
• Verlag: De Gruyter, US
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2012
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN-10: 161451156X
• ISBN-13: 9781614511564
• Einband: Hardback
• Zustand: New
• Gewicht: 592 Gramm

Über diesen Titel

Inhaltsangabe

This book addresses how core notions of information structure (topic, focus and contrast) are expressed in syntax.The authorspropose that the syntactic effects of information structure come about as a result of mapping rules that are flexible enough to allow topics and foci to be expressed in a variety of positions, but strict enough to capture certain cross-linguistic generalisations about their distribution. In particular,the papersargue that only contrastive topics and contrastive foci undergo movement and that this is because such movement has the function of marking the scope of contrast. Several predications are derived from this proposal: such as that a focus cannot move across a topic - whether the latter is in situ or not. Syntactic and semantic evidence in support of this proposal is presented from a wide range of languages (including Dutch, English, Japanese, Korean and Russian) and theoretical consequences explored. The first chapter not only outlines its theoretical aims, but also provides an introduction to information structure. As a consequence, the book is accessible to advanced students as well as professional linguists.

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Ad Neeleman, University College London, London, UK; Reiko Vermeulen, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.