VOS: Focus Fronting
2006-Jun-26, Monday 20:18![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Last Edited: 2006.Jul.14 Fri
(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:
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 |