2.9.2.2.5. Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree license focalization and topicalization in
Shupamem. In focalization with the cleft copula, we have «mb?ì
kaì» (which is how) and the morpheme
«n?ì» at the end of the sentence. Focalization and
topicalization of degree adverbs are shown in (41) and (42) below:
(41) Focalization
a) m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké
r??niì
child fetched water much
«The child fetched much water»
b) aÌ r??niì mb?ì
kaì m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké
n?ì
Cl. much is how child fetch water Decl.
«It is MUCH that the child fetched water»
c) m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké poì
r??niì
child fetched water Foc. much
«The child fetched MUCH water»
(42) Topicalization
a) m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké
r??niì
child fetched water many
«The child fetched much water»
b) r??niì-n?ì,
m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké
much-Top child fetched water
«Much water, the child fetched»
The data in (41) show that the degree adverbs in Shupamem can
be focalized in-situ or extracted to the left periphery. As for the data in
(42), they show that degree adverbs can be topicalized in Shupamem.
2.9.2.2.6. Restrictive Adverbs
In Shupamem, restrictive adverbs can be focalized, alongside
the noun that they modify. In the same vein, they can be topicalized. None of
these operations will be allowed if the modified element is left aside. Also,
topicalization requires the use of a resumptive pronoun that refers to the
moved element. Let's consider the data in (43) below:
(43) Focalization
a) m?ìn tuÌ? nduì
?ké
child fetched only water
«The child fetched only water»
b) aì nduì ?ké
mb?ì j??ì m?ìn tuÌ? n?ì
Cl. only water is what child fetched Decl.
«It is ONLY WATER that the child fetched»
c) * aì nduì mb?ì j??ì
m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké n?ì
Cl. only is what child fetched water Decl.
Intended: «It is ONLY WATER that the child
fetched»
d) m?ìn tuÌ? poì
nduì ?ké
child fetched Foc. only water
«The child fetched ONLY WATER»
(44) Topicalization
a) m?ìn tuÌ? nduì
?ké
child fetched only water
«The child fetched only water»
b) nduì
?ké-é, m?ìn tuÌ?
jiìr?ì
only water-Top child fetch that
«Only water, the child fetched that»
c) *nduì n?ì,
m?ìn tuÌ? ?ké
only Top child fetched water
Intended: «Only water, the child fetched that»
The data in (43.c) and (44.c) are ungrammatical because the
restrictive adverb has been focalized and topicalized alone, without the noun
«?ké» (water) that it modifies. Also, (44.b) shows
that topicalization of the restrictive adverbs and the noun it modifies
requiresthe use of a resumptive pronoun «jiìr?ì»
(it)which refers back to the said noun.
| 
