Chapter 11
Discourse-functional particles and topicalization
11.1 Topicalization
A topicalized constituent can be placed before the clause proper. It has its own
accentuation in this position, may have "comma" intonation, and is essentially
external to the clause. If the referent in question is subject, object, etc., it is
expressed by a pronominal in the clause proper. In (689.a-b), the topicalized
nouns (masculine and feminine, respectively), correspond to the object clitics
within the clause proper.
(689) a. e-haen [ajbar-aen-\t am-an]
Sg-tent [surround.Reslt-3MaPlS-\3MaSgO water-MaPl]
'The tent [topic], water surrounds (=is abundant around) it.'
(phonetic [e'haen (,) adgbajrse'ntaman])b. t-a-jiji-t-t
Fe-Sg-dune-Fe-FeSg
[i-jbar-\taet n£e-s-aekso]
[3MaSgS-surround.Reslt-\3FeSgO Sg-fodder]
'The small dune [topic], fodder (=grass) surrounds it.'Usually a topicalized constituent has no special "topic" particle. Even
topicalized pronouns normally take the form of simple independent pronouns.
However, I was able to elicit a construction with a pronoun (of any singular or
plural pronominal category except 3Sg) followed by an invariable 3Sg
independent pronoun anta. The construction seems to be of the 'as for me,
...' type.(690) nsekk anta aqqlm-aerAadd
lSg 3Sg sit. PerfP-1S gS -\Centrip
'As for me [topic], I stayed.'Likewise naekk-aen-ed snta 'as for us', ksemm snta 'as for you-FeSg', etc.
VblN's are easily topicalized, providing a mechanism for verb
topicalization. In (691.a), the feminine VblN 'reading' is topicalized, and is
resumed by the 3FeSgO clitic in the following clause. (691.b) has a similar
structure.