[Lingtyp] from connector to focus marker

[mohammad rasekh]

Dear All,

There is a particle in Persian (Iranian language) which hasmultiple functions. This particle is ‘ke’, literally meaning ‘that’. Broadly,it has two general/main functions: a)connector (connecting complement, relativeand adverbial clauses), b) marking some parts of information structure (focus,rhetorical question, mirativity, indifference, etc.). Concerning this particle,I have two questions:

First, is there any evidence in other languages in which aparticle moves from subordinator to information structure marker? If there is,I appreciate providing me with the sources.

Second, the position of ‘ke’ as adverbial clause marker isnot fixed. It may appear clause initially, but it moves to different parts ofthe adverbial clause (not the final position). Actually it ‘shifts’. Is thereany evidence in other languages for this ‘subordinator shift’? 

Thanks in advance.

Mohammad Rasekh-Mahand


Mohammad Rasekh-Mahand Linguistics Department,Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.Postal Code: 6517838695  https://basu.academia.edu/MohammadRasekhmahand
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lingtyp/attachments/20230218/1aff0ed9/attachment.htm>