Constraints on information-structural marking in the DP

Abstract This paper investigates how information-structural categories like focus can be linearized inside the DP. Starting from the claim that information-structural marking possibilities in the DP-structure often mirror marking possibilities in the CP-structure within the same language, we show that while this assumption holds for various European languages, it breaks down when Mabia languages are taken into account. Focusing on Likpakpaanl, we provide an example for a language, where, due to particular restrictions on information-structural marking, notions like focus cannot be marked at all inside the DP and require a clausal marking strategy.