‘Shared knowledge’ and topicality

TL;DR: This paper provides responses to the points raised in this volume in an e-ort to evaluate, clarify and extend some of the arguments in Constructions at Work.

Abstract: 0. Introduction. Although terms like 'discourse analysis' and 'text analysis' have been around for over 35 years (e.g. Harris 1952a,b), there is still no one generally accepted theory of discourse on the basis of which one might provide the analysis of a text. For one thing, one may take two different tacks: the 'humanistic' tack, according to which one seeks to discover what is special about or unique to a particular text, what sets it apart from all other texts of its class or genre, and the 'scientific' tack, according to which one seeks to discover what general principles of texthood are discernible from a single token of text.

TL;DR: In this article, it is argued that it is the latter rather than the former which characterizes the complement of focus in focal accent, and when one distinguishes "given" in the sense of "presupposed" from "activated" (in the mind of the hearer).

TL;DR: This paper pointed out that the two do not always coincide, illustrating this point with the following exchange between a guide and a tourist: (1) A: We are now passing the oldest winery in the region. B: Why?

TL;DR: The Journal of Linguistics as discussed by the authors published this paper in three parts, in this and the two subsequent issues of the Journal of Language and Literature, in order to deal with the themes in the clause.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyse du problem de thematisation des phrases d'un point de vue pragmatique (pragmatic aboutness) in terms of information ancienne et nouvelle, mais seulement en termes d'a-propos pragmatic aboutness.