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Old English left-dislocations: Their structure and information status

Abstract The structure and discourse correlates of left-dislocations are discussed and compared with those that have been identified in Present Day English. Significant factors in Old English are shown to be the animacy and quantificational status of the dislocated nominal; complexity is an additional factor. Several functions considered important in Present Day English such as reintroduction of a referent after a long gap, contrast, and licensing of topic continuity are not characteristic of Old English left-dislocations. Suggestions are made about how work on contemporary English left-dislocations and on comparative studies of information structure might be informed by the characteristics of Old English left-dislocations.