Dislocating NPs to the Right: Anything Goes? Semantic and Pragmatic Constraints

Abstract

In our paper we investigate the semantics and pragmatics of the NP-right dislocation (RD) in German, concentrating in particular on the conditions under which dislocation is possible. We argue that semantic properties of the NP are relevant for the possibility of having an NP dislocated: it has to have a type <e> denotation. This requirement allows particular definite NPs as well as kind-referring terms and excludes quantified NPs. We propose a semantic account of RD in terms of ‘separate performatives’ thereby explaining the distributional facts. Furthermore, we show how the function of RD as a discourse topic marker endorses the requirement of the type <e> denotation for the RD-NP.