Breul Carsten. Focus Structure in Generative Grammar: An integrated syntactic, semantic and intonational approach

John Benjamins, 2004. — x, 430 pages. — (Linguistik Aktuell / Linguistics Today). — ISBN: 90-272-2792-6 / 1 58811 503 8.The notion of focus structure in this work refers to the distinction between categorical, thetic and identificational sentences. The central claim is that the syntactic representation of every sentence has to encode which of these types of focus structure is realized. This claim is discussed in great detail with respect to syntax, intonation and semantics within the framework of the Minimalist Program. It is shown that the incorporation of focus structure into syntax offers new perspectives for a solution of vexing problems in syntax and semantics. For example, fronting (preposing, 'topicalisation') is treated as a syntactic operation which clearly belongs to core grammar, i.e. is not optional or 'stylistic'; the semantic notion of quantifier raising is dispensed with in favour of a focus structural treatment of phenomena which gave rise to it. The book appeals to generative linguists and to functional linguists who do not believe in an unbridgeable gap between the formal and functional analysis of language.Introduction and overview
The syntactic framework and the FocP-hypothesis
Basic assumptions about phrase and clause structure
The FocP-hypothesis
A review of previous work
On information structure
On fronting (preposing, ‘topicalisation’)
Information structure and focus structure
Focus structure as a component of information structure
Constraints on focus structure
Features, checking theory and semantic implications
Features and checking theory
Semantic implications and applications
Intonational aspects of the FocP-hypothesis
The principles of i-focus projection
Supplementing the principles of i-focus projection
Pitch accents
Conclusion: The relation between i-focus and [±foc]-features
FocP-related English syntax
Introductory remarks
XP-movement to spec-Foc of root clauses
XP-movement to spec-Foc of embedded clauses
XP-movement to both root and embedded spec-Foc
Mitigatedthat-trace effectsSemantic issues related to the FocP-hypothesis
The syntax-semantics/pragmatics interface
Conceptual and type-semantic considerations
Semantic effects of focus structureAspects of the syntax of languages other than English
Other languages in general
GermanSummary and general conclusion