Abstract
This study examines the syntax of “special position” focus constructions in a number of Chadic languages. Unlike such constructions in previously studied languages (e.g. Hungarian, Aghem, Basque, Italian), the designated focus position is not found exclusively next to V. In many Chadic postverbal focus languages, the direct object obligatory intervenes. It can, moreover, be shown that the focus position may appear inside the predicate, yet is not a sister to V. An analysis of these facts is developed based on the syntactic feature [+FOCUS] taken to be a feature of INFL in these languages. Expanding on Horvath's (1986) proposal that the properties of the feature FOCUS are parallel to those of the syntactic features Case and WH, the variation found with respect to the linear position of focus constituents is shown to follow from a parameter specifying the way in which FOCUS is assigned in combination with Koopman's (1987) parameter of Case transmission in chains. If FOCUS is assigned directly, a focus constituent appears in the domain of INFL. If it is assigned indirectly, via SPEC-head agreement, a focus constituent appears in SPEC, CP. If the trace of V cannot assign Case, heads of direct objects must raise to V, producing the observed ‘V DO FOC’ pattern. The facts of postverbal focus constructions in VSO languages are shown to pattern exactly as predicted by the analysis, developed on the basis of the (more frequently occurring) SVO Chadic languages.
I am grateful also to colleagues at UQAM for comments and suggestions on this work at various stages (M. Guerssel, I. Haïk, J. Kaye, J. Lowenstamm, D. Massam) and to G. Dimmendaal, T. Hoekstra, J. Horvath, M. Kenstowicz, M. Rochemont, R. Schuh, as well as audiences in Leiden, Amsterdam, and Paris. For considerable help in the presentation of the final version, I would like to acknowledge an anonymous NLLT reviewer.
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Field work on Tangale was part of a trip to northern Nigeria as research associate in the Groupe de recherche en linguistique africaniste (UQAM), funded by grants of the Canadian (CRSH #411-85-0012) and Quebec (FCAR #87-EQ-2681) governments. I would like to thank my colleagues on that trip, Réjean Canac Marquis and Emmanuel Nikiema, as well as Tangale speakers Mela Magaji (originally of Billiri) and Isa Ibrahim (originally of Kaltungo). Special thanks to Dr. Mairo Kidda for devoting hours reviewing our findings and discussing her language with us.
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Tuller, L. The syntax of postverbal focus constructions in Chadic. Nat Lang Linguist Theory 10, 303–334 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133815
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133815