The Syntax of Topic, Focus, and Contrast: An Interface-based Approach (Studies in Generative Grammar [SGG], 113) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 161451156X ISBN 13: 9781614511564

Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton, 2012

Synopsis

This book addresses how core notions of information structure (topic, focus and contrast) are expressed in syntax. The authors propose that the syntactic effects of information structure come about as a result of mapping rules that are flexible enough to allow topics and foci to be expressed in a variety of positions, but strict enough to capture certain cross-linguistic generalisations about their distribution. In particular, the papers argue that only contrastive topics and contrastive foci undergo movement and that this is because such movement has the function of marking the scope of contrast. Several predications are derived from this proposal: such as that a focus cannot move across a topic – whether the latter is in situ or not. Syntactic and semantic evidence in support of this proposal is presented from a wide range of languages (including Dutch, English, Japanese, Korean and Russian) and theoretical consequences explored. The first chapter not only outlines its theoretical aims, but also provides an introduction to information structure. As a consequence, the book is accessible to advanced students as well as professional linguists.

About this title

About the Author

Ad Neeleman, University College London, London, UK; Reiko Vermeulen, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Edition details

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 161451156X
• ISBN 13: 9781614511564
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 314
• Editor: Neeleman Ad, Vermeulen Reiko