Focus Marking in Kusaal

Abstract

In this paper, we highlight the strategies that are used to mark focus or place emphasis on elements in the Kusaal clausal construct. Following Dakubu (2005:18-21), we make a distinction between "broad" and "narrow" focus. As a result, we also make a formal distinction between Foc (initial cap only) and FOC (all caps) and relate the former form to broad focus and the latter to narrow focus. We thus differentiate between nɛ/-nɛ Foc and the -i clitic focus marker as opposed to the narrow focus marker, ka, and show that these are used almost always in exclusion of the other.