The Meaning of Focus Particles

This ten year study presents a comprehensive analysis of focus particles and related function words. They play an important role but their characteristics pose numerous problems for current syntactic frameworks and semantic theories.

Focus particles (words such as even, only, also) play an important role in English, in various syntactic and semantic domains, but their characteristics pose numerous problems for current syntactic frameworks and semantic theories.
This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the syntax, meaning and use of focus particles and related function words in English and many other languages. It also provides a historical perspective on their development.

Autorentext

König, Ekkehard

Klappentext

Focus particles (words such as even, only, also) play an important role in English, in various syntactic and semantic domains, but their characteristics pose numerous problems for current syntactic frameworks and semantic theories. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the syntax, meaning and use of focus particles and related function words in English and many other languages. It also provides a historical perspective on their development.

Inhalt

1. Introduction 2. Syntax 3. The meaning of focus particles: an overview 4. Additive particles 5. Exclusive particles 6. Identical values in conflicting roles 7. Focus particles and phase quantification 8. Historical aspects 9. Overview and further prospects References