Using an equative construction to give prominence to a focal constituent

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2.3.1.6 Using an equative construction to give prominence to a focal constituent

In his list of devices commonly used to give prominence to a focal constituent, Levinsohn includes be verbs 2008:59. In accordance with this observation, Hani demonstrates a tendency to express presupposed information in a relative clause, which is followed by the focal constituent and a copula. The effect is to give prominence to the focal constituent. Consider 28 and 29: 28a ‘He told her, “You can leave. I want to wait here for someone. After she comes, we can leave together.”’ 28b [Spoken by the other interlocutor] ‘“Can’t you even tell who I am? ...’ 28c ...Nol doq zaq e col ngal maq ngeel, 2:N wait DUR LNK person 1:N NEG be 28d aqsol ngeel siq nga laq, ... who be CONT OBJ QP ‘“[If] the person for whom you’re waiting is not I, who is [it]?”’ V:63 Compare: 29a Nol ngaq yaol maq doq zaq al-ngaoq, 2:N 1 ACC NEG wait DUR CRS-TOP 29b aqsol yaol doq zaq? who ACC wait DUR ‘If you aren’t waiting for me, who are [you] waiting for?’ elicited The constructions in both 28c and 29b can be used when the fact that the other speaker is waiting for someone is already known and the identity of this person is in 37 focus. 19 In 28c, an equative construction is used to give prominence to the identity of the person. The presupposed information is expressed in a relative clause, followed by the focal constituent bolded and the negated copula. The relative clause in 28c modifies the head noun ‘person.’ However, Hani also allows for headless relative clauses, resulting in a construction of the form relativized presupposed constituent + focal constituent + copula. The context for 30 is a conversation between two speakers. The first speaker has asked the other, “What is the sweetest and tastiest thing in heaven and earth?” and the other has given his response. The first speaker then replies that the response was incorrect. The second speaker then says: 30a “Ngal eil huvq e bav ngaoq, nol eil joq. 1 say return LNK wrong TOP 2 say IMP ‘“If what I’ve replied is wrong, you say.’ 30b Hal keel hal qul zeiq e hal jivq nga laq?” most tasty most sweet CMPR LNK what CL OBJ QP ‘What is the sweetest and tastiest [thing]?”’ 19 If 29b is replaced by a question such as “What are you doing?” then a topic-comment reading of 29a is possible. Following 28c, however, it would be infelicitous to say “[if] the person for whom you are waiting is not I, what are you doing?” 38 30c “Nol ssaonei nalhaq. Aoq ssol milcaq.haoqbaoq 2 carefully listen sky and land a hal qul zeiq hal keel zeiq e aqma DAT most sweet CMPR most tasty CMPR LNK mother aqqul nga ... milk OBJ [Spoken by the other interlocutor] ‘“You listen carefully. The sweetest and tastiest [thing] in heaven and earth is mother’s milk ...”’ I:27 In 30, the identity of the sweetest and tastiest thing on earth is being questioned. In 30c, the focal constituent, ‘mother’s milk,’ is placed in the focus position just before nga, a verb phrase constituent. 20

2.3.2 Applications of the principles of 2.3.1