A Comparison of Wh-Clefts and <i>It</i> -Clefts in Discourse

Abstract

WH-clefts and it -clefts have long been claimed to be interchangeable. However, an examination of naturally-occurring discourse demonstrates that this claim is incorrect. The presupposed part (WH-clause) of a WH-cleft represents information that the speaker can assume the hearer is thinking about. In one variety of it -cleft, the presupposed part ( that /WH-clause) represents information which the speaker assumes the hearer knows or can deduce, but is not presumably thinking about. In another variety of it -cleft, the presupposed part represents information which the speaker takes to be a known fact, though definitely NOT known to the hearer.