Spotlight / Focus
What is the most important new information?
含义
The part of the message that carries the main emphasis, contrast, correction, or answer to the current question.
如何识别
Ask which part would be stressed or corrected in context.
示例
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
语言视角
在母语中
Focus can be shown through word order, stress, particles/adverbs such as 只, 连...都, and the 是...的 construction.
我是昨天来的。
wǒ shì zuótiān lái de = it was yesterday that I came
在目标语言中
Focus can be shown by stress, word order and particles such as -ই.
আমি-ই কাজটা করেছি।
I myself did the work.
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.