Spotlight / Focus
What is the most important new information?
Signification
The part of the message that carries the main emphasis, contrast, correction, or answer to the current question.
Comment le repérer
Ask which part would be stressed or corrected in context.
Exemples
only|even|it was|not X but Y
it was Anna who|ANNA did it|only Peter
Anna bought the book, not Peter.
Visual guide
Message = background + focus Who bought the book? background: bought the book FOCUS: Anna Anna bought the book. = Anna, not Peter
Same focus, many shapes Stress: ANNA did it Cleft: it was Anna who... Particle: only Peter Contrast: not X but Y Word order/focus slot may mark it Task: find the spotlight
Vue par langue
Dans votre langue maternelle
Focus is expressed by stress, cleft constructions, particles, or fronting/dislocation.
C’est Anna qui a acheté le livre.
It is Anna who bought the book.
Dans votre langue d’apprentissage
En anglais, on met l’information importante en relief par l’accent oral, des structures comme It was X who..., le déplacement en début de phrase et le contexte.
It was John who called.
John = information mise en relief
Les apprenants peuvent compter seulement sur l’ordre des mots, alors que l’anglais utilise souvent l’accent, une structure de mise en relief ou une formulation plus explicite.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.