On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction
This paper discusses surface optionality in focus fronting in the Benue-Congo language Igbo. A focused XP can occur in-situ or ex-situ. We argue that the optionality does not have its origins in the syntax: in fact, exactly one focused XP has to move to the designated focus position in the left peri...
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De Gruyter
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/zfs-2020-2017 |
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doaj-1c1b885b8451428ca98ffc4e38c99f6f2021-09-05T20:51:40ZdeuDe GruyterZeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft0721-90671613-37062021-02-0139329932710.1515/zfs-2020-2017zfs-2020-2017On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interactionAmaechi Mary0Georgi Doreen1University of Ilorin, Department of Linguistic and Nigerian Languages, Ilorin, NigeriaUniversität Potsdam, Department Linguistik, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, Potsdam, GermanyThis paper discusses surface optionality in focus fronting in the Benue-Congo language Igbo. A focused XP can occur in-situ or ex-situ. We argue that the optionality does not have its origins in the syntax: in fact, exactly one focused XP has to move to the designated focus position in the left periphery in the syntax. The alternation between in-situ and ex-situ rather arises at PF: either the lowest or the topmost copy of the focus chain is pronounced. The choice is determined by semantic-pragmatic factors, i. e., we see an interaction between PF and LF. This constitutes a challenge for a strict version of the Y-model of grammar.https://doi.org/10.1515/zfs-2020-2017ā-movementfocus realizationpf-optionalityy-modelcopy pronounciationbenue-congo languages |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
deu |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Amaechi Mary Georgi Doreen |
| spellingShingle |
Amaechi Mary Georgi Doreen On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft ā-movement focus realization pf-optionality y-model copy pronounciation benue-congo languages |
| author_facet |
Amaechi Mary Georgi Doreen |
| author_sort |
Amaechi Mary |
| title |
On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction |
| title_short |
On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction |
| title_full |
On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction |
| title_fullStr |
On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction |
| title_full_unstemmed |
On optional wh-/focus fronting in Igbo: A SYN-SEM-PHON interaction |
| title_sort |
on optional wh-/focus fronting in igbo: a syn-sem-phon interaction |
| publisher |
De Gruyter |
| series |
Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft |
| issn |
0721-9067 1613-3706 |
| publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
| description |
This paper discusses surface optionality in focus fronting in the Benue-Congo language Igbo. A focused XP can occur in-situ or ex-situ. We argue that the optionality does not have its origins in the syntax: in fact, exactly one focused XP has to move to the designated focus position in the left periphery in the syntax. The alternation between in-situ and ex-situ rather arises at PF: either the lowest or the topmost copy of the focus chain is pronounced. The choice is determined by semantic-pragmatic factors, i. e., we see an interaction between PF and LF. This constitutes a challenge for a strict version of the Y-model of grammar. |
| topic |
ā-movement focus realization pf-optionality y-model copy pronounciation benue-congo languages |
| url |
https://doi.org/10.1515/zfs-2020-2017 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT amaechimary onoptionalwhfocusfrontinginigboasynsemphoninteraction AT georgidoreen onoptionalwhfocusfrontinginigboasynsemphoninteraction |
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