VOS: Focus Fronting

[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