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Chapter 12. Information structure in a spoken corpus of Cameroon Pidgin English

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Abstract

We explore information structure in a spoken corpus of Cameroon Pidgin English, addressing the broad question of how far the corpus method addresses the needs of research in this area. Focusing on marked pronouns used in focus/topic constructions and the copula/focus marker na, we detail a method for investigating information structure in the corpus. Corpus analysis not only confirms but elaborates an emergent description allowed by the elicitation stage, demonstrating that while elicitation reveals what is possible, corpus analysis reveals what is preferred. However, we conclude that qualitative analysis is still required to identify instances of focus in the absence of marked morphosyntactic features, as well as interpretations governed by context.

Abstract

We explore information structure in a spoken corpus of Cameroon Pidgin English, addressing the broad question of how far the corpus method addresses the needs of research in this area. Focusing on marked pronouns used in focus/topic constructions and the copula/focus marker na, we detail a method for investigating information structure in the corpus. Corpus analysis not only confirms but elaborates an emergent description allowed by the elicitation stage, demonstrating that while elicitation reveals what is possible, corpus analysis reveals what is preferred. However, we conclude that qualitative analysis is still required to identify instances of focus in the absence of marked morphosyntactic features, as well as interpretations governed by context.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Investigating information structure in lesser-known and endangered languages 1
  4. Part I. Prosody and information structure
  5. Chapter 2. Prosodic separation of postverbal material in Georgian 17
  6. Chapter 3. Prosodic and morphological focus marking in Ixcatec (Otomanguean) 51
  7. Chapter 4. On being first 85
  8. Chapter 5. Factors behind variation in marking information structure 119
  9. Chapter 6. Macrosyntactic corpus annotation 157
  10. Part II. Syntax and information structure
  11. Chapter 7. Focus marking and differential argument marking 195
  12. Chapter 8. A topic-marking cleft? 217
  13. Chapter 9. Subjects and focus in clefts 245
  14. Chapter 10. The influence of the state distinction on word order and information structure in Kabyle and Siwi (Berber) 265
  15. Chapter 11. Information structure in the Neo-Aramaic dialect of Telkepe 297
  16. Chapter 12. Information structure in a spoken corpus of Cameroon Pidgin English 329
  17. Part III. Views from better described languages
  18. Chapter 13. The illocutionary basis of information structure 359
  19. Chapter 14. Annotation guidelines for Questions under Discussion and information structure 403
  20. Language index 445
  21. Notion index 447
Information Structure in Lesser-described Languages
This chapter is in the book Information Structure in Lesser-described Languages
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.199.12gre

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Investigating information structure in lesser-known and endangered languages 1
  4. Part I. Prosody and information structure
  5. Chapter 2. Prosodic separation of postverbal material in Georgian 17
  6. Chapter 3. Prosodic and morphological focus marking in Ixcatec (Otomanguean) 51
  7. Chapter 4. On being first 85
  8. Chapter 5. Factors behind variation in marking information structure 119
  9. Chapter 6. Macrosyntactic corpus annotation 157
  10. Part II. Syntax and information structure
  11. Chapter 7. Focus marking and differential argument marking 195
  12. Chapter 8. A topic-marking cleft? 217
  13. Chapter 9. Subjects and focus in clefts 245
  14. Chapter 10. The influence of the state distinction on word order and information structure in Kabyle and Siwi (Berber) 265
  15. Chapter 11. Information structure in the Neo-Aramaic dialect of Telkepe 297
  16. Chapter 12. Information structure in a spoken corpus of Cameroon Pidgin English 329
  17. Part III. Views from better described languages
  18. Chapter 13. The illocutionary basis of information structure 359
  19. Chapter 14. Annotation guidelines for Questions under Discussion and information structure 403
  20. Language index 445
  21. Notion index 447
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