Difference between revisions of "Cleft (definition)"

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==Definition==
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A '''cleft''' (also known as a cleft sentence) is a complex sentence constructed using a focused element preceded by either a special clefting particle or a phrase like "it is" which in turn is followed by a relative clause marked with the [[Complementizer (definition)|complementizer]] ''that'' or "which".  This type of complex sentence construction is usually used to bring focus to a particular constituent.  An example in English is "It was pizza that he insisted on eating.'' Gaelic uses a lot of clefts. They typically start with '' 'S e'' or '' 'S ann''and are followed by a clause starting with the complementizer ''a'': '' 'S e pizza a dh'ith e''
A 'cleft' (also referred to as a 'cleft sentence') is a complex sentence constructed using a main clause and a subordinate clause; it expresses an idea or meaning that can be and is more often formed by a simple sentence.  This type of complex sentence construction is usually used to bring focus to a particular constituent that is placed into the main clause.   
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
[[Clefts]]
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*[[Clefts]]
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*[[Topic (definition)]]
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*[[Focus (definition)]]
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
[http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACleftSentence.htm SIL entry on clefts]
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*[http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACleftSentence.htm SIL entry on clefts]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_sentence Wikipedia entry on clefts]
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The link below takes you away from the Gaelic Wiki to Wikipedia. Since wikipedia pages can be edited by anyone, they often contain inaccurate information. So be careful!
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_sentence Wikipedia entry on clefts]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
[http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACleftSentence.htm SIL entry on clefts]
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*[http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACleftSentence.htm SIL entry on clefts]
  
  
 
[[Category: Technical Definitions]]
 
[[Category: Technical Definitions]]
 
[[Category: Syntax]]
 
[[Category: Syntax]]
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[[Category: Pragmatics]]

Latest revision as of 04:45, 11 June 2012

A cleft (also known as a cleft sentence) is a complex sentence constructed using a focused element preceded by either a special clefting particle or a phrase like "it is" which in turn is followed by a relative clause marked with the complementizer that or "which". This type of complex sentence construction is usually used to bring focus to a particular constituent. An example in English is "It was pizza that he insisted on eating. Gaelic uses a lot of clefts. They typically start with 'S e or 'S annand are followed by a clause starting with the complementizer a: 'S e pizza a dh'ith e

See Also

External Links

The link below takes you away from the Gaelic Wiki to Wikipedia. Since wikipedia pages can be edited by anyone, they often contain inaccurate information. So be careful!

References