Word Order and Accent Placement in Topics, Foci, and Markers of Discourse Continuity

Abstract

This paper is aimed at analyzing the markers of the topic, the focus, and discourse continuity in their coordination. The main problem of expressing the discourse continuity is that it is generally identical with the means designating the topic: there is no formal difference in either the corresponding pitch accents or the principles of the choice of the words to carry them. Nevertheless, certain strategies of marking the topic, the focus, and discourse incompleteness autonomously within a single clause where the topic, the focus, and discourse incompleteness have distinct words accent-bearers and the applicable pitch accents are found in a variety of languages. The parameters of such strategies are discussed. These patterns are exemplified below by the Russian, German, and English data.