Focus strategies in Chadic - The case of triangular revisited

Abstract

The present article offers a detailed study of focus strategies in some Chadic languages, paying special attention to the focus system of Tangale. It discusses two dimensions of variation with respect to the realization of focus. First, there is a striking variety of focus strategies across the Chadic languages. Second, focus can be realized in different ways within one and the same language: We show that Tangale has at least three focus strategies the application of which is governed by the verbal aspect, the valency of the focused verb, the category of the focus constituent, and the argument status of the focused DP. We conclude that purely syntax-based theories of focus marking reach their limits when confronted with the complex focus systems of the Chadic languages, and propose a prosody-based analysis instead. © The authors 2007. Journal compilation 2007 The Editorial Board of Studia Linguistica.