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Topics and topicalization in Amharic
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Abstract
The paper examines the information structure of Amharic sentences with regard to topicalization. The morphemes -mma, -ss, and -mm in Amharic have been ascribed a function as topic markers (cf. Blejer 1986, Gasser 1983, Hetzron 1973, Kapeliuk 1978, Leslau 1995, etc.). From a synchronic point of view we disagree with Leslau's (1995) analysis of -mma as a combination of -mm ‘TOP:N’ and -a(a) ‘TOP:E’. Further, we argue that only the morphemes -mma and -ss can be considered topic markers while -mm is rather a focus marker. Topics in Amharic are generally marked by fronting the constituent in question to the sentence-initial position. Those which are additionally marked by the morphemes
-mma and -ss are contrastive, i.e., ‘as for’-topics, while topics only marked by fronting are non-contrastive.
Title: Topics and topicalization in Amharic
Description:
Abstract
The paper examines the information structure of Amharic sentences with regard to topicalization.
The morphemes -mma, -ss, and -mm in Amharic have been ascribed a function as topic markers (cf.
Blejer 1986, Gasser 1983, Hetzron 1973, Kapeliuk 1978, Leslau 1995, etc.
).
From a synchronic point of view we disagree with Leslau's (1995) analysis of -mma as a combination of -mm ‘TOP:N’ and -a(a) ‘TOP:E’.
Further, we argue that only the morphemes -mma and -ss can be considered topic markers while -mm is rather a focus marker.
Topics in Amharic are generally marked by fronting the constituent in question to the sentence-initial position.
Those which are additionally marked by the morphemes
-mma and -ss are contrastive, i.
e.
, ‘as for’-topics, while topics only marked by fronting are non-contrastive.
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