Atopicality as the unmarked logical structure in Scottish Gaelic

Bartlett, T. (2023) Atopicality as the unmarked logical structure in Scottish Gaelic. In: Gentens, C., Ghesquière, L., McGregor, W. B. and van Linden, A. (eds.) Reconnecting Form and Meaning: In honour of Kristin Davidse. Series: Studies in language companion series (230). John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 71-95. ISBN 9789027212993 (doi: 10.1075/slcs.230.03bar)

Abstract

In this paper I argue that the canonical clause structure in Scottish Gaelic does not select an element as topical, but that marked structures are available to do so under specific discursive conditions. As such, Scottish Gaelic represents a previously unrecognised typological category in terms of text-organisational preferences. To make this argument I draw on discussions concerning the structure of marked atopical utterances crosslinguistically and compare these with the unmarked Gaelic structure. I draw a distinction, however, between the unmarked atopical clause in Gaelic, which I analyse as event-scoped, and the marked atopical clauses discussed in the literature, which are analysed as sentence-focused. I then demonstrate that Gaelic employs marked structures for the purposes of both topicalisation and sentence focus.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Additional Information: eISBN: 9789027254498.
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bartlett, Professor Tom
• Authors: Bartlett, T.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
• Journal Name: Studies in Language Companion Series
• Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
• ISSN: 0165-7763
• ISBN: 9789027212993