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Title:
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Focus and Word Order Variation in Greek
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Author:
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Michalis Georgiafentis
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Email:
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click here to access email
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Homepage:
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http://www.enl.uoa.gr/en_data/252.html
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Degree Awarded:
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University of Reading
, School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Linguistic Science Division
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Degree Date:
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2004
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Linguistic Subfield(s):
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Syntax
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Subject Language(s):
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Greek
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Director(s):
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Irene Philippaki-Warburton
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Abstract:
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This thesis explores in what ways syntax and/or phonology are involved in the realisation of focus and the effect this phenomenon has on word order variation in Greek.
On the basis of prosodic, syntactic, pragmatic/discourse, and interpretative criteria, it is argued that in Greek there are two distinct types of focus, namely information and contrastive focus, each of which is licensed in a different way. Information focus is realised via the interplay of the Nuclear
Stress Rule (NSR) and the Focus Prominence Rule (FPR), with a local operation, namely p-movement, applying to ensure that the focused constituent is in the appropriate position to receive main prominence. On the other hand, contrastive focus involves elimination of the [Foc] feature of Foc via long distance Agree with the focused phrase, movement of the focused constituent to [Spec, FocP] to satisfy the EPP feature of Foc, and subsequent application of the Emphatic/Contrastive Stress Rule (ESR/CSR). In essence, this means that information focus is prosodically manifested, while contrastive focus is primarily syntactic in nature. With respect to the positions focused items occupy, it is maintained that both informationally and contrastively focused elements can appear in a ‘low’ or ‘high’ position.
Both types of focus affect word order variation, since focusing needs trigger movement, namely p-movement in the case of information focus, and movement to [Spec, FocP] in the case of contrastive focus. Thus, the two focusing mechanisms described above account for the derivation of all attested word order patterns (including the ‘typical positioning’ of manner adverbs in the VOS order) and –at the same time– exclude the generation of non-attested ones. Within this account, it is also shown that focus –unlike p-movement– has an effect on binding relations, and that T to Foc movement is not operative in Greek.
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