Abstract
This paper aims at investigating cleft constructions in both Arabic and English to see how elements and entities of a sentence are connected through many different focus devices. The results reveal that English, as well as Arabic, use different strategies to form focus constructions. In English, for instance, It-cleft and the Wh-cleft constructions are the most frequently used devices for highlighting a certain element. It has been claimed that the underlying structure of the Arabic nominative sentences is the VSO pattern from which fronting or topicalization is used as a process of highlighting a certain element in the sentence. It has been further claimed that focus constructions in Arabic can be achieved by further devices like the particle [Ɂinna] and the pronouns of separation. Keywords: It-cleft, Wh-cleft, focus, Arabic.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Middle East Research Journal of Linguistics and Literature
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
