Premium
Constituent question formation and focus: a new typological perspective
Author(s) -
Mycock Louise
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
transactions of the philological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1467-968X
pISSN - 0079-1636
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-968x.2007.00188.x
Subject(s) - typology , perspective (graphical) , linguistics , focus (optics) , grammar , computer science , simple (philosophy) , artificial intelligence , history , epistemology , philosophy , physics , optics , archaeology
All languages have strategies which enable speakers to ask constituent (‘wh’‐) questions. Of the strategies available, three types based on the notion of movement are usually cited in the literature: in situ, multiple fronting, and simple fronting. However, data reveal that focusing is the defining characteristic of constituent question formation cross‐linguistically. This paper therefore adopts a different approach, presenting a unified analysis within the non‐derivational framework of Lexical‐Functional Grammar which captures the relevant generalisations about focusing and in turn provides a fresh perspective on the typology of constituent question formation strategies. 1