Definition

Verb: * To give a word or phrase special emphasis within a sentence, typically by placing it at the beginning or by using heavy stress, in order to make it the main topic of discussion.

Usage

This verb is primarily used in the field of linguistics to describe a specific syntactic or phonological process. It is often used in passive constructions (e.g., "is topicalized") or to describe a general linguistic phenomenon.

Examples

• In many languages, you can topicalize an object by moving it to the start of the sentence.
• The linguist explained how to topicalize a phrase for emphasis.
• The sentence "This book, I really enjoyed" topicalizes the direct object "this book."

Advanced Usage

• Topicalization (n): The process or result of making something the topic of a sentence.
  • The topicalization of the adverbial phrase changed the sentence's focus.
• Topical (adj): Pertaining to the topic or subject of discussion. (Note: This is a related but distinct word, often meaning "of current relevance.")
  • The essay's topical structure was clear.

Variants and Related Words

• Topicalization (n): The linguistic process or instance of topicalizing.
• Topic (n): The subject of a sentence or discussion.
• Focus (n/v): A related linguistic concept concerning the part of a sentence that conveys new or emphasized information.

Synonyms

• Emphasize
• Foreground
• Highlight (in a linguistic context)

Antonyms

• Background
• De-emphasize

Notes

"Topicalize" is a technical term from syntax and discourse analysis. It does not mean "to make something relevant to current events" (that is the meaning of the adjective "topical"). Its core meaning is specifically about grammatical structure and sentence-level emphasis.

Verb

1. emphasize by putting heavy stress on or by moving to the front of the sentence
   • Speakers topicalize more often than they realize
   • The object of the sentence is topicalized in what linguists call `Yiddish Movement'