Focus formulae

The function of some pragmatic/discourse formulae, markers or particles is primarily to direct the hearer’s or reader’s particular attention to some information, that is, to foreground some information relative to other (we will further discuss how these might work). Following Tuggy (1996), here we refer to these generally as focus formulae. Sometimes that information may be new, but not necessarily so; the focus formula may be signaling merely that the interpreter should shift their attention. Besides directing attention, focus formulae can signal particular attitudes or help manage the discourse. Note that generally we are much more in the realm of cognitive issues than semantic ones.

There are a large number of formulae in English that communicators deploy to indicate how the reader or hearer should take the upcoming information. These include: