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In:Theoretical Issues in the Languages of the Caucasus
Edited by Ümit Atlamaz, Ömer Demirok and Balkız Öztürk
[Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today 294] 2026
► pp. 371–395

Chapter 12
West Circassian scalar ‘only’ in a typology of focus marking

 | HSE UniversityMoscow
 | HSE UniversityMoscow
 | Independent researcher
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
The paper proposes a typology of focus marking based on whether focus is associated with the predicate position and, if not, whether the position of focus marking is determined with respect to the focused constituent (D-focus marking) or not (C-focus marking). This typology is applied to several constructions involving the scalar ‘only’ focalizer nəʔep in West Circassian, a polysynthetic language of the West Caucasian family. This focalizer has predicate morphology, which is presumably related to the principle that in West Circassian the focus tends to appear as the predicate. Yet we show that deviations from this principle in the language have led to the development of certain typologically unusual patterns of focus marking.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Typology of focus marking beyond word order and intonation
    • 2.1Approaching the focus
    • 2.2Marking focus
  • 3.Background on West Circassian
  • 4.West Circassian non-scalar ‘only’: First acquaintance and basic uses
  • 5.Non-canonical constructions with nəʔep
    • 5.1Non-adfocus predicate ‘only’
    • 5.2Adfocus non-predicate ‘only’
    • 5.3Clause-final adfocus non-predicate
  • 6.Lessons for the synchronic and diachronic typology of focus marking
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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