Topicalization in Cyprian Norwid. a Reconaissance

Abstract

Topicalization, understood as highlighting the topic of an utterance, has different syntactic, lexical, and punctuational exponents. Punctuational exponents are specific to Norwid, constituting a peculiar equivalent of suprasegmental exponents of the thematic-thematic structure in a written text. The discussed operation introduces a hidden contrast, indicating that the topic of an utterance is X rather than any other conceivable topic, or an object which could be selected from a previously signaled class. This is accompanied by the following intention: ‘I am talking about X, not about Y, Z… etc.’, This blurs the clear distinction into the thematic and rhematic part, and hence represents Norwid’s characteristic strategy of speaking, in which the main topic and rhemat seem equally important.