Non-canonical word order

Question 1

Types of non-canonical word order

Answer 1

◦ Fronting
◦ Subject-verb inversion
◦ Existential there clauses
◦ Dislocation
◦ Clefting

Question 2

Fronting

Answer 2

Some elements do not typically belong at the beginning of a clause. When we want to focus on them, we bring them to the front or beginning of the clause.

Question 3

Existential “there” clauses

Answer 3

• to introduce new information, which is
  presented in the indefinite noun phrase.
• use of “to be” sometimes preceded by auxiliaries, modals or semi-modals

Question 4

Dislocation

Answer 4

Used in spoken language to
break up a clause into two separate
structures

Question 5

Clefting

Answer 5

• Information that could be given in a single
  simple clause is broken up into two
  clauses, each with its own verb (additional focus)
• 2 types : it-cleft / Wh-cleft