Topic and focus as linear notions: evidence from Italian and Russian

This paper investigates the syntactic structure and pragmatic interpretation of topic and focus, in particular in Russian and Italian. It is argued that topic and focus do not correspond to specific syntactic positions [contra Rizzi, L., 1997. The fine structure of the left periphery. In: Haegeman, L. (Ed.), Elements of Grammar. Kluwer, Dordrecht]. On the contrary, topic and focus are associated with specific linear positions: topics are on the left edge and focus is on the right edge of the IP. Furthermore, it is argued that the informational component is interpretative and linear, whereas syntax is non-interpretative and hierarchical.