Textual roles of two forms of rhematic subjects: initial rhematic subjects vs. subjects rhematized by it-clefts

Abstract

The paper discusses two realization forms of rhematic subjects, initial rhematic subjects construed with a presentation verb and an optional scene-setting adverbial, and rhematic subjects in the underlying form of cleft-constructions. The two forms are examined from the viewpoint of their potential synonymy, the points in focus being their FSP features with respect to their assignment to the dynamic semantic scale and their textual roles. The aim of the paper is to find out to what extent the two constructions of rhematic subjects are differentiated or exchangeable.

Keywords

• rhematic subject
• presentation sentence
• cleft sentence
• dynamic semantic scale
• textual role