Freezing in it-clefts: Movement and focus
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Jutta M. Hartmann
Abstract
This paper discusses the interaction of Freezing with movement and focus on the basis of subextraction from the pivot of it-cleft sentences. It shows that subextraction is in principle possible, and that it is not sensitive to whether the pivot is related to a derived subject or real object. However, if the context induces an additional contrastive focus on the pivot, extraction is less acceptable. It is suggested that the problem is that two different sets of alternatives need to be construed on the basis of one and the same syntactically marked focus phrase, the pivot. Once the two sets of alternatives are syntactically separated, interpretation is less complex and licit.
Abstract
This paper discusses the interaction of Freezing with movement and focus on the basis of subextraction from the pivot of it-cleft sentences. It shows that subextraction is in principle possible, and that it is not sensitive to whether the pivot is related to a derived subject or real object. However, if the context induces an additional contrastive focus on the pivot, extraction is less acceptable. It is suggested that the problem is that two different sets of alternatives need to be construed on the basis of one and the same syntactically marked focus phrase, the pivot. Once the two sets of alternatives are syntactically separated, interpretation is less complex and licit.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents VII
- Exploring the concepts of Freezing: Theoretical and empirical perspectives 1
-
Part I: Theoretical advancement
- Criterial Freezing in small clauses and the cartography of copular constructions 29
- Freezing Effects in a free-Merge System 66
- Freezing in complex prefields 105
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Part II: Empirical domains
- The Freezing points of the (Dutch) adjectival system 143
- Freezing in it-clefts: Movement and focus 195
- Criterial Freezing in the syntax of particles 225
- Only syntax 264
- Freezing and phi-feature agreement: On the role of [PERSON] 284
- Freezing, Topic Opacity and Phase-based Cyclicity in Subject Islands 317
-
Part III: Interface extensions
- Freezing: Between grammar and processing 353
- Heavy NP shift in context: On the interaction of information structure and subextraction from shifted constituents 387
- Freezing as a probabilistic phenomenon 403
- An experimental study on freezing and topicalization in English 430
- Index 451
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents VII
- Exploring the concepts of Freezing: Theoretical and empirical perspectives 1
-
Part I: Theoretical advancement
- Criterial Freezing in small clauses and the cartography of copular constructions 29
- Freezing Effects in a free-Merge System 66
- Freezing in complex prefields 105
-
Part II: Empirical domains
- The Freezing points of the (Dutch) adjectival system 143
- Freezing in it-clefts: Movement and focus 195
- Criterial Freezing in the syntax of particles 225
- Only syntax 264
- Freezing and phi-feature agreement: On the role of [PERSON] 284
- Freezing, Topic Opacity and Phase-based Cyclicity in Subject Islands 317
-
Part III: Interface extensions
- Freezing: Between grammar and processing 353
- Heavy NP shift in context: On the interaction of information structure and subextraction from shifted constituents 387
- Freezing as a probabilistic phenomenon 403
- An experimental study on freezing and topicalization in English 430
- Index 451
