The Topicalization Comparative Construction—Evidence from Sinitic and Beyond

In this paper, we discuss topicalization comparatives, an underrecognized subtype within the Heinean event-schema framework. Drawing on data from Nyanja, Malay, and Sinitic languages, the analysis corroborates the existence of a construction marked by a fronted topic with an obligatory standard of comparison and an optional comparee. Topicalization creates a cognitive domain that facilitates contrast between the standard of comparison and the comparee, with prosodic cues or an overt topic and/or comment marker. Furthermore, two formal subtypes of topicalization comparative construction are distinguished: a fuller form aligning with Heine’s prototype and a reduced variant observed in Wu and Hui Sinitic, wherein topic–comment ordering reinforced by prosody enables a contrastive reading between the standard and the comparee. Despite the centrality of topicalization, its cross-linguistic distribution remains limited; as a matter of fact, not all topic-prominent languages employ this schema, due to internal competition among cognitive strategies and external pressure from standard languages. These findings underscore the marginal status of topicalization comparatives in a global typological perspective. The study contributes empirical evidence from under-documented Sinitic varieties and points to the need for broader cross-linguistic investigation into the competition among alternative cognitive schemas in shaping comparative constructions in topic-prominent languages.