Comparative Concept: focus (inf)

Definition

in identificational information packaging, the information which is identified as the 'filler' for the open part of the presupposed open proposition. Example: in It was Jack who stole my cookies!, the presupposed open proposition is 'X stole my cookies', and the filler of X is Jack – i.e. X = Jack. The focus may be any part of the information in the clause, not just an argument. The term 'focus construction' is sometimes used as a synonym for 'identificational construction', but we avoid that usage here. (Section 11.4.1)