Information structure in language includes the concepts of topic and focus, which can be expressed through various strategies such as prosody, word order, and morphological marking.
Apart from topic and focus, information structure encompasses additional categories like frame setters and anti-topics, each serving a unique function in providing context and emphasizing certain information.
Deep dives
Overview of Information Structure
Information structure is a fundamental aspect of language that connects sentence contents to the wider discourse environment. It encompasses the relationships between new and old information, the identification of topics, and the expression of focus. While investigating information structure, it is crucial to consider context and how ideas connect within it. There are two primary categories within information structure: topic and focus. Topic refers to a referent already introduced or available in the discourse, while focus provides new or at-issue content about that topic. Various languages employ different strategies for marking topic and focus, including prosody, word order, and morphological marking. Some languages even repurpose existing elements or use pragmatics to hint at information structure.
Different types of focus structure
Information structure goes beyond just topic and focus and encompasses other categories as well. One such category is the frame setter, which establishes the setting of a sentence in terms of time or space. It often appears at the beginning of a sentence and provides context for the action being described. Another category is anti-topic, which functions as a mostly optional afterthought topic that comes at the end of a sentence. This category emphasizes that the information mentioned is not the main topic but needs to be mentioned. Additionally, there are various ways to mark focus and topic, such as through the use of adverbials, morphological marking, or pragmatic inferences. These additional categories and forms of marking add depth and complexity to information structure.
Grammaticalization pathways
Grammaticalization pathways play a key role in the development and evolution of information structure markers. For example, relative markers can become focus markers through processes like cliticization or reanalysis. Pronouns may evolve into agreement prefixes, integrating topicalization and left dislocation processes. Furthermore, repurposing existing elements, such as copulas or definite markers, can yield focus or topic markers. These grammaticalization pathways demonstrate the dynamic nature of information structure and highlight the various ways languages evolve and adapt to encode and convey meaning.
Connections to English and Language Variety
English exemplifies various aspects of information structure. Clefting, where a sentence is restructured for emphasis, highlights how existing elements can be repurposed to convey focus or topic. English also relies on definiteness and subjecthood in semantic and syntactic tools to convey topicality. While English offers useful examples, exploring information structure beyond English enriches our understanding of how different languages employ diverse strategies to express and convey information.
Aidan Aannestad comes on the show to talk about information structure, which included discussions on topic and focus and how they can be realized in language. Links and Resources
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode