It-clefts are IT (inquiry terminating) constructions

Abstract

Abstract We analyze the semantics of a range of constructions which we refer to as Inquiry Terminating (IT) constructions. In English, these include it-clefts and exclu-sives such as only, just and mere(ly). Despite their differences, IT constructions have much in common. We claim they are always focus- sensitive, have closely related semantics, and have a uniform discourse function: they always mark utterances that give a complete answer to what the speaker takes to be the Current Question (CQ). We give a new account of the meaning of clefts that captures both their similarities and their differences to other IT constructions