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VOS: Focus Fronting
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 |