Syntax lesson number TWO
Thursday, March 15, 2001 - 8:32

Beware the ides of March.

**Warning: boring entry. Please stop reading.**

Beginning Syntax
Lesson 1: Topicalization

If you recall, the first erect penis I ever saw, I thought it looked like a potato.

It was topicalization! Hooray!

Topicalization, also called left dislocation, also called preposing, "refers to the placing of a clause element outside the syntactic boundaries of the clause" (Payne 1997), specifically to the left of the clause.

Examples:
That dog, he sure stinks.
Beethoven, he was one foxy composer.
Syntax lessons, I don't think they belong in diaries.
Farts, they come from eating too many beans.

Now that you know what topicalizing is, please practice it. No one will think you're weird, because we do it all the time.

Oh damn, this isn't syntax lesson number one. The first lesson was when I gave you all permission to split infinitives. I'm sure you've all forgotten that lesson. Geez, the life of an internet grammar teacher sure is thankless.