jeff_l
(Jeff_L)
#1
646 12 Extraction processes
d. nsekk [a i-waet]
lSg [Foe 3MaSgS-hit.PerfP]
'It is me [focus] that he hit.' [K-d]
e. α-wen-dasY [a-\ha-m snne-r]
Dem-Dist-Anaph [Foc-\Dat-2FeSg say.PerfP-lSgS]
'That [focus] is what I said to you-FeSg.'
f. [a sndsrrae-n] rds
[Dem be.small-Partpl.MaSg] only
[a-\dar-9s e t-skss-d]
[Foc-\Instr-3Sg Fut 2S-eat.ShImpf-2SgS]
'Just a little of it [focus] is what you-Sg will eat.'
12.2.3 Focalization of prepositional complement
Focalization of a prepositional complement NP follows the same linear-order
pattern as with relativization, except that the verb has its full form (with all
relevant ablaut features). The "preposition" has now cliticized to the ά at the
front of the clause (750.a). Dative is merged with Instrumental as As in this
construction (750.b-c), as in relatives. Note the fortuitous similarity between
the resulting a-\s (Foe + Preposition) and 3MaSg dative clitic -\a-s. For other
uses of a-\s in focalization, see §12.2.6 below. (750.d) has fael 'on'.
(750) a. i-borsy-aen [a-\s n-sssirael]
MaPl-stick-MaPl [Foc-Unstr lPlS-work.Reslt]
'It's sticks [focus] that we work with.'
b. aebba-n-in [a-\s-\t skfe-v]
father-Poss-my [Foc-\Instr-\3MaSgO give.PerfP-lSgS]
'It was mv father [focus] to whom I gave it.'
c. k£yy [a-\s-\t2en i-nna]
2MaSg [Foc-\Instr-\MaP10 3MaSgS-say.PerfP]
'It's vou-MaSg [focus] that he told (lit. "said them") to.'
d. [haeraet an "t-as-s-amas-t an bukar ras]
[thing Poss Fe-Sg-Instr-veil-FeSg Posscotton.cloth only]
[a-\fael-\ha-naev 0-asfftilla]
[Foc-\on-\Dat-lPl 3MaSgS-rely.Reslt]
Ά mere veiled garment of black cotton cloth [focus] is what
he (=a man) relies on (=is satisfied with) for us.' [K]
