The pragmatic effects of Macedonian li: An empirical study

In this paper we provide empirical data concerning the pragmatics of the particle li following nominal phrases in polar questions in Macedonian. Since in previous literature li has been analyzed as a focus particle, we put forward two hypotheses on its effect in questions that can follow from focus marking: (i) that li signals uniqueness of the entity that is denoted by the constituent it is attached to or (ii) that li signals surprise about the entity denoted by the constituent it is attached to. We have conducted an online survey that shows that polar questions in which li is adjacent to a fronted XP are felicitous in contexts containing surprise, regardless of whether that XP is unique or not. We account for these findings using questions under discussion and alternative semantics.