15. Cleft constructions
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Anna-Maria De Cesare
Abstract
This chapter is devoted to the cleft constructions documented in Romance languages, both in European and non-European varieties of Romance. The first part of the chapter provides a definition of clefts, based on the morpho-syntactic, semantic and functional properties of these constructions, presents the different types of clefts available in the Romance languages and highlights the factors explaining their systemic, geographic and discourse variation. The second section focuses on the morpho-syntactic description of the three main building blocks of clefts: the expletive pronoun opening the clefts of some Romance varieties, the copula and the relativizer. The third section of the chapter addresses the ways clefts are accounted for in formally and functionally-oriented studies, respectively. Finally, the last part of the chapter identifies some open research questions on cleft constructions to solve in the future.
Abstract
This chapter is devoted to the cleft constructions documented in Romance languages, both in European and non-European varieties of Romance. The first part of the chapter provides a definition of clefts, based on the morpho-syntactic, semantic and functional properties of these constructions, presents the different types of clefts available in the Romance languages and highlights the factors explaining their systemic, geographic and discourse variation. The second section focuses on the morpho-syntactic description of the three main building blocks of clefts: the expletive pronoun opening the clefts of some Romance varieties, the copula and the relativizer. The third section of the chapter addresses the ways clefts are accounted for in formally and functionally-oriented studies, respectively. Finally, the last part of the chapter identifies some open research questions on cleft constructions to solve in the future.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Manuals of Romance Linguistics V
- Table of Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- 1. Introduction 1
-
The verbal domain
- 2. Subjects 27
- 3. Objects 89
- 4. Argument structure and argument structure alternations 154
- 5. Clitic pronouns 183
- 6. Voice and voice alternations 230
- 7. Auxiliaries 272
- 8. Causative and perception verbs 299
- 9. Copular and existential constructions 332
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The clausal and sentential domains
- 10. Infinitival clauses 369
- 11. Tense, aspect, mood 397
- 12. Negation and polarity 449
- 13. Dislocations and framings 472
- 14. Focus Fronting 502
- 15. Cleft constructions 536
- 16. Interrogatives 569
- 17. Exclamatives, imperatives, optatives 603
- 18. Coordination and correlatives 647
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The nominal domain
- 19. Gender and number 691
- 20. Determination and quantification 727
- 21. Adjectival and genitival modification 771
- 22. Relative clauses 804
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Typological aspects
- 23. Syntheticity and Analyticity 839
- 24. Basic constituent orders 887
- List of Contributors 933
- Index 941
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Manuals of Romance Linguistics V
- Table of Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- 1. Introduction 1
-
The verbal domain
- 2. Subjects 27
- 3. Objects 89
- 4. Argument structure and argument structure alternations 154
- 5. Clitic pronouns 183
- 6. Voice and voice alternations 230
- 7. Auxiliaries 272
- 8. Causative and perception verbs 299
- 9. Copular and existential constructions 332
-
The clausal and sentential domains
- 10. Infinitival clauses 369
- 11. Tense, aspect, mood 397
- 12. Negation and polarity 449
- 13. Dislocations and framings 472
- 14. Focus Fronting 502
- 15. Cleft constructions 536
- 16. Interrogatives 569
- 17. Exclamatives, imperatives, optatives 603
- 18. Coordination and correlatives 647
-
The nominal domain
- 19. Gender and number 691
- 20. Determination and quantification 727
- 21. Adjectival and genitival modification 771
- 22. Relative clauses 804
-
Typological aspects
- 23. Syntheticity and Analyticity 839
- 24. Basic constituent orders 887
- List of Contributors 933
- Index 941
