EXCLUSIVE ADVERBIALS IN LATE MIDDLE ENGLISH: INFORMATION STRUCTURE AND SYNTACTIC CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Middle English (ME) is termed as a transitory stage in the development of English syntax. While in the earlier stages of language evolution, word-order, as well as, temporal adverbials were considered the main information structural markers, ME with its more rigid morphology requires new means to express newness of sentence constituents. From this perspective, the paper deals with the rise and advancement of new exclusive adverbials (onli¸ mereli, simpli, holli, outerli and plainli) within 1350-1500. Analysis based on Rizzi’s formula, Prince’s taxonomy and Culicover’s studies allows to elicit evolutionary pattern for exclusives in different stages, determining the ratio of different Focus type marking (informational or contrastive), as well as, discourse status representation.