Topical Focus in Focus Preposing Constructions

Term Paper , 2008 , 11 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit einem Aspekt der englischen Syntax, nämlich dem „Preposing“, also dem Voranstellen von bestimmten Konstituenten. Die übliche Satzstellung des Englischen ist SVO (Subjekt, Verb, Objekt). Bsp: “I ordered coffee.“ Um ein Element des Satzes besonders zu betonen kann man dieses aber auch voranstellen. “COFFEE I ordered.” Hierbei spricht man von „Topicalization“ oder „Focus Preposing“. Eugenia Casielles-Suárez schildert dieses Thema in ihrem Text “Focus Preposing (it is called)” aus dem Jahr 1998, der auch dieser Arbeit zugrunde liegt. In der Linguistik wird im Satz unterschieden zwischen Topik (das Thema eines Satzes) und Fokus (das, was über das Thema ausgesagt wird). In dieser Arbeit wird diskutiert, ob das vorangestellte Element gleichzeitig Fokus und Topik des Satzes ist und wie dies sein kann. Dabei werden zunächst die verschiedenen Analysemöglichkeiten von Casielles- Suárez beschrieben und anschließend die beiden Konstruktionen „Focus Preposing“ und „Topicalization“ nach Birner and Ward 2006 verglichen.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Focus Preposing as a Topical Focus
  • The Reconstruction Analysis
  • The Interaction of Two Dichotomies
• Focus Preposing and Topicalization
• Conclusion
• References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the nature of Focus Preposing constructions in English, specifically whether the preposed element is both the focus and the topic of the utterance. It focuses on the analysis proposed by Eugenia Casielles-Suárez in her 1998 paper, exploring different approaches to understanding the construction's relationship with topicality.

• Analysis of Focus Preposing as a topical focus
• Comparison of Focus Preposing with Topicalization
• Reconstruction Analysis and its application to Focus Preposing
• The interaction of focus and topic within the construction
• Ward's concept of Backward Looking Center (BLC) and its relevance

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction

This chapter introduces the concept of Focus Preposing and distinguishes it from other preposing constructions like Topicalization and Left-dislocation. It highlights the focus on the preposed element and its potential relationship to topicality. Casielles-Suárez's analysis is introduced, focusing on Ward's concept of Backward Looking Center (BLC) and its connection to topicality.

Focus Preposing as a Topical Focus

This chapter examines two approaches to understanding Focus Preposing as a topical focus. Firstly, it explores the Reconstruction Analysis, proposed by Vallduví, which suggests that the preposed element functions as a link and the focus is reconstructed from the sentence. Secondly, the chapter considers the interaction of two dichotomies, focus and ground, which could potentially account for the construction's dual nature.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper centers on the key concepts of Focus Preposing, Topicalization, Backward Looking Center (BLC), Reconstruction Analysis, Vallduví's hierarchical trichotomy, and the interaction of focus and topic in linguistic constructions.

• College: University of Wuppertal
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Stefanie Schmitz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 11
• Catalog Number: V202850
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656288558
• ISBN (Book): 9783656289418
• Language: English
• Tags: Anglistik, Linguistik, Focus Preposing, Topicalization, Syntax, Topical Focus