Chapter 1. Syntax and semantics of additive focus markers from a cross-linguistic perspective
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Ekkehard König
Abstract
Looking back on three decades of research on focus markers, I will make a cautious attempt to give an overview over this rich set of relevant publications, trying to identify and distinguish general trends, important results, open questions, obvious gaps and errors. I will provide further evidence for the view that focus markers interact with the information structure of a sentence or text, i.e. with a structured proposition or text segment analyzed in terms of focus and scope by extending this analysis also to the relevant “discourse markers”. A comparative analysis of data from various languages reveals the most frequent parameters of variation in the identification of the focus and scope of a focus marker. Finally, I will show that cross-linguistic generalizations in the relevant domain are only possible if the comparison is restricted to a certain core group of markers.
Abstract
Looking back on three decades of research on focus markers, I will make a cautious attempt to give an overview over this rich set of relevant publications, trying to identify and distinguish general trends, important results, open questions, obvious gaps and errors. I will provide further evidence for the view that focus markers interact with the information structure of a sentence or text, i.e. with a structured proposition or text segment analyzed in terms of focus and scope by extending this analysis also to the relevant “discourse markers”. A comparative analysis of data from various languages reveals the most frequent parameters of variation in the identification of the focus and scope of a focus marker. Finally, I will show that cross-linguistic generalizations in the relevant domain are only possible if the comparison is restricted to a certain core group of markers.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a typological and historical perspective
- Chapter 1. Syntax and semantics of additive focus markers from a cross-linguistic perspective 23
- Chapter 2. Meaning both ‘also’ and ‘only’? 45
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Part II. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a semantic, prosodic and pragmatic perspective
- Chapter 3. On the distribution of additive focus particles addirittura and perfino/persino in Italian 79
- Chapter 4. French additive particle aussi 107
- Chapter 5. Processing additivity in Spanish 137
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Part III. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a discourse-oriented perspective
- Chapter 6. Mapping additivity through translation 157
- Chapter 7. The scalar operator even and its German equivalents 201
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Part IV. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a language contact perspective
- Chapter 8. Additive focus particles in German-speaking learners of Italian as L2 237
- Chapter 9. Additive relations in L2 French 265
- Chapter 10. Ënghe, ence and also anche 311
- Focusing modifiers index 331
- General index 333
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a typological and historical perspective
- Chapter 1. Syntax and semantics of additive focus markers from a cross-linguistic perspective 23
- Chapter 2. Meaning both ‘also’ and ‘only’? 45
-
Part II. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a semantic, prosodic and pragmatic perspective
- Chapter 3. On the distribution of additive focus particles addirittura and perfino/persino in Italian 79
- Chapter 4. French additive particle aussi 107
- Chapter 5. Processing additivity in Spanish 137
-
Part III. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a discourse-oriented perspective
- Chapter 6. Mapping additivity through translation 157
- Chapter 7. The scalar operator even and its German equivalents 201
-
Part IV. Additive Focusing Modifiers from a language contact perspective
- Chapter 8. Additive focus particles in German-speaking learners of Italian as L2 237
- Chapter 9. Additive relations in L2 French 265
- Chapter 10. Ënghe, ence and also anche 311
- Focusing modifiers index 331
- General index 333
