On the obligatoriness of focus marking
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Peggy Jacob
Abstract
Based on new evidence, the paper describes the different strategies that are used to mark focus in Tar B’arma, a Nilo-Saharan language. The paper also addresses the question which factors determine the preference for one or another means to express focus. It explores conditions like the type of the focused phrase c(subject vs. non-subject focus) or the semantic interpretation of focus itself (presentational vs. contrastive focus), which are known to have an impact on the formal realisation of focus cross-linguistically. While the latter condition turns out to have no effect on focus marking in Tar B’arma, question-answer congruence mentioned in the typological literature is established as a factor influencing focus marking in an African language for the first time.
Abstract
Based on new evidence, the paper describes the different strategies that are used to mark focus in Tar B’arma, a Nilo-Saharan language. The paper also addresses the question which factors determine the preference for one or another means to express focus. It explores conditions like the type of the focused phrase c(subject vs. non-subject focus) or the semantic interpretation of focus itself (presentational vs. contrastive focus), which are known to have an impact on the formal realisation of focus cross-linguistically. While the latter condition turns out to have no effect on focus marking in Tar B’arma, question-answer congruence mentioned in the typological literature is established as a factor influencing focus marking in an African language for the first time.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
- Information structure marking in Sandawe texts 1
- Topic and focus fields in Naki 35
- The relation between focus and theticity in the Tuu family 69
- Focus marking in Aghem 95
- On the obligatoriness of focus marking 117
- Focalisation and defocalisation in Isu 145
- Discourse function of inverted passives in Makua-Marevone narratives 165
- Topic-focus articulation in Taqbaylit and Tashelhit Berber 193
- Focus in Atlantic languages 233
- Topic and focus construction asymmetry 261
- Verb-and-predication focus markers in Gur 287
- Why contrast matters 315
- Focus and the Ejagham verb system 349
- Language index 377
- Subject index 379
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
- Information structure marking in Sandawe texts 1
- Topic and focus fields in Naki 35
- The relation between focus and theticity in the Tuu family 69
- Focus marking in Aghem 95
- On the obligatoriness of focus marking 117
- Focalisation and defocalisation in Isu 145
- Discourse function of inverted passives in Makua-Marevone narratives 165
- Topic-focus articulation in Taqbaylit and Tashelhit Berber 193
- Focus in Atlantic languages 233
- Topic and focus construction asymmetry 261
- Verb-and-predication focus markers in Gur 287
- Why contrast matters 315
- Focus and the Ejagham verb system 349
- Language index 377
- Subject index 379
