Spotlight / Focus
Focus
Emphasis
Cleft
Contrastive focus
What is the most important new information?
booster
intermediate
Information structure
Betekenis
The part of the message that carries the main emphasis, contrast, correction, or answer to the current question.
Zo herken je het
Ask which part would be stressed or corrected in context.
Voorbeelden
Woorden
only|even|it was|not X but Y
Zinnen
it was Anna who|ANNA did it|only Peter
Voorbeeldzin
Anna bought the book, not Peter.
Visual guide
Basic shape
Message = background + focus Who bought the book? background: bought the book FOCUS: Anna Anna bought the book. = Anna, not Peter
Compare shape
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
Taaloverzicht
In je taal
Dutch (standard)
Aanwezigheid
strong
Belang
Focus can be marked by stress, fronting, particles or cleft-like patterns.
Dat boek heb ik gelezen.
That book have I read.
In de taal die je leert
Bengali (standard)
Aanwezigheid
strong
Moeilijkheidsgraad
Focus can be shown by stress, word order and particles such as -ই.
আমি-ই কাজটা করেছি।
I myself did the work.
Veelvoorkomend struikelpunt
Learners may miss the strong exclusive/corrective force of -ই.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.