On motivation and incoordination in grammar – The case of two Polish exclamative constructions

Abstract

Abstract The paper discusses two Polish exclamative constructions as instances of the Abstract Exclamative Construction (AEC) proposed by Michaelis and Lambrecht (1996). It is argued that while the Co-za Exclamative Construction is motivated straightforwardly by the identifying Co-za Question Construction as well as AEC, the Ale Exclamative Construction involves not only AEC but also a more complex process called “incoordination”, whereby a second coordinate clause with its coordinating conjunction ale becomes an autonomous monoclausal construction. The process involves a change in the information structure and in illocutionary force, which becomes increasingly expressive. In addition, it is accompanied by a shift of the sentence stress from the focal element in the second coordinate clause to the initial Ale.