qiihoskeh: myo: kanji (Default)
[personal profile] qiihoskeh
Last Edited: 2006.Jul.14 Fri

Focus Fronting

A focused argument moves to the start of the clause. Focused arguments include query (WH-question) words and contrasting phrases. The rest of the clause is asserted. There are a couple of interesting things here:
(1) the verb is preceded by the same word used as a definite article,
(2) the verb acts like a noun or adject with regard to actant morphology.

Examples:
3.(saw)-3A Def-3.(dog) 3.John "John saw the dog." (no fronting)
naf-ci ne-berro Hwaani
Int 3.John Def-3.(saw)-3A Def-3.(dog) "Was it John that saw the dog?"
pya Hwaani ne-naf-ci ne-berro
3.(dog) Def-3H-(saw)-3A 3.John "It was a dog that John saw."
perro ne-do-naf-ci Hwaani
3.(who) Def-3.(saw)-3A Def-3.(dog) "Who saw the dog."
cobi ne-naf-ci ne-berro

3. (none) = 3rd person
3H- to- = 3rd person head
-3A -ci = 3rd person animate
Def ne- = definite article
Int pya = interrogative particle

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qiihoskeh: myo: kanji (Default)
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