2.9.2.1.2. Epistemic II adverbs
The epistemic II adverb that I identified in Shupamem is the
pre-verbal expression «k?Ì mbuì?/puì?»
(unavoidably). The data in (31) and (32) below show that it can be focalized
through the cleft copula, and not with «poì». They
also show that epistemic II adverb cannot be topicalized.
(31) Focalization
a) m?ìn k?Ì mbuì?
nsuì taìsaÌ
child unavoidably wash dish
«The child unavoidably washed the dish»
b) aì k?Ìmbuì?
m?ìn nsuì taìsaÌ
Cl. unavoidably child washed dish
«The child UNAVOIDABLYwashed the dish»
c) *m?ìn poì k?Ì
mbuì? nsuì taìsaÌ
child Foc. unavoidably washed dish
Intended: «The child UNAVOIDABLYwashed the dish»
(32) Topicalization
a) m?ìn k?Ì mbuì?
nsuì taìsaÌ
child Hab. unavoidably wash dish
«The child unavoidably washed the dish»
b) *k?Ì mbuì?
n?ì, m?ìn nsuì
taìsaÌ
UnavoidablyTop. child washed dish
Intended: «Unavoidably, the child washed the
dish»
With focalizaton, the epistemic II «k?Ì
mbuì?» (unavoidably) allows the cleft construction, as shown
in (31.b) above. It cannot be focalized in-situ, that is, through the focus
particle «poì», reason why the data in (31.b) is
ungrammatical. In the same light, it cannot be topicalized, as shown in (32.b),
like the case with the aspectual adverbs studied above. This leads to the
conclusion that pre-verbal lower class adverbs can neither be topicalized nor
focalized in-situ.
2.9.2.2. Post-verbal
adverbs
Post-verbal adverbs are adverbs that are right-attached to the
verb. In other words, they are adverbs generated after the verb.I shall look at
the focalization and topicalization of the locative, the manner, the
celerative, the temporal, the degree, the restrictive, the frequency, the
comparativeand exocomparative adverbs.
2.9.2.2.1. Locative adverbs
Locative adverbs in Shupamem admit both focalization and
topicalization. Let's consider the data in (33) and (34) below:
(33) Focalization
a) m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké t?Ì
taìm
child fetched water well
«The child fetched water from the well»
b) aì t?Ì taìm
mb?ì?aì m?ìn tuÌ?
?ké n?ì
Cl. well iswhere child fetched water Decl.
«It is FROM THE WELL that the child fetch water»
c) m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké po? t?Ì
taìm
child fetched water Foc. well
«The child fetched water FROM THE WELL»
(34) Topicalization
a) m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké t?Ì
taìm
child fetched water well
«The child fetched water from the well
b) t?Ì taìm
m?ì, m?ìn tuÌ?
?ké
well Top child fetched water
«From the well, the child fetched water»
Examples in (33) and (34) show that both focalization of
locative adverbs with «aì» and with
«poì» are licensed in Shupamem. In the same vein,
topicalization of locative adverbs is licensed. It is important to precise that
focalization with «aì» is rare in discourse. This
makes the structure much more complex. In fact, there should be theexpression
«mb?ì?aì» (which is where)to mark emphasis on
the moved element,and «n?ì» (declaration) in such
constructions.
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