Open AccessIt-clefts are IT (Inquiry Terminating) constructions
Author(s) -
Daniel J. Velleman,
David Beaver,
Émilie Destruel,
Dylan Bumford,
Edgar Onea,
Liz Coppock
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
proceedings from semantics and linguistic theory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2163-5951
pISSN - 2163-5943
DOI - 10.3765/salt.v0i0.2640
Subject(s) - focus (optics) , semantics (computer science) , computer science , projection (relational algebra) , function (biology) , normalization property , linguistics , natural language processing , programming language , algorithm , philosophy , physics , evolutionary biology , optics , biology
We offer a new analysis of the semantics of the English it-cleft, building on recent work on exclusive particles such as "only." The analysis emphasizes the discourse function of clefts — which, we claim, is to terminate a line of inquiry by marking an answer as complete. It accounts for the semantic effects — not previously appreciated — of focus placement within the cleft pivot. It also provides a solution to a previously discussed problem with the projection of exhaustivity from embedded contexts.