The syntax and prosody of focus in Northern Amis (Formosan)

Abstract This article outlines the strategies for expressing focus in Northern Amis (Formosan). Three types of constructions are examined: cleft constructions, markers and emphatic lengthening. Focus by clefting is subject to well-known nominative-only constraint on extraction relativization found Formosan Philippine type languages (Keenan & Comrie 1977), such that a clefted constituent must be syntactic pivot verb relative clause containing presupposition, its semantic role co-indexed appropriate voice marker verb. The other marking do not involve any restructuring; determine domain their placement right side focus, while lengthening merely prosodic device locally focused entity. examination these reveals narrow signaled sharp rise, aligned with onset stressed syllable optionally accompanied postfocal de-accenting. These properties apply all constructions.