Topicalization

Topicalization is a discourse-pragmatic and syntactic process in which a constituent of a sentence is presented as the topic of the discourse. The topic is treated as what the rest of the sentence or discourse comments on or about which information is being provided. Topicalization is closely related to information structure and is generally distinguished from focus, which highlights new or contrastive information.

In many languages, topicalization is realized by moving the topic constituent to the left periphery of the clause, often accompanied by intonation or discourse markers. In English, topics can be signaled by fronting or by introductory phrases such as “As for X,” with the remainder of the sentence providing the comment. For example, “As for John, I spoke to his assistant.” The topic sets the frame for what follows.

Other languages use explicit topic markers, particles, or clitics to signal topicalization. For instance, some languages employ dedicated particles or pronoun forms to mark the topic, while others rely primarily on fixed word order and prosody to indicate topic. Japanese is frequently cited for its use of a topic-marking element, often described as wa, to signal the topic of a sentence, with the remainder forming a comment about that topic. Korean, Turkish, and other languages also exhibit topic-focused constructions, sometimes with additional discourse strategies such as left dislocation.

Topicalization interacts with other information-structuring devices, including left-dislocation and contrastive focus. It serves functions in discourse management, coherence, and the organization of shared knowledge, helping speakers establish what is already known versus what is being asserted or elaborated.