Spotlight / Focus
What is the most important new information?
Ý nghĩa
The part of the message that carries the main emphasis, contrast, correction, or answer to the current question.
Cách nhận biết
Ask which part would be stressed or corrected in context.
Ví dụ
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
Góc nhìn theo ngôn ngữ
Trong ngôn ngữ mẹ đẻ của Bạn
Focus can be marked by chính, chỉ, mới, là-cleft-like structures, word order and intonation.
Chính tôi đã trả tiền.
exactly I past pay money
Trong ngôn ngữ Bạn đang học
English uses stress, cleft sentences, fronting, and context to mark focus.
It was John who called.
John = focused information
Learners may use word order alone where English would use stress, clefts, or clearer wording.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.