A pragmatic analysis of Epitomization: Topicalization it's not∗
Gregory Ward · Paper in Linguistics · 1984
A type of OSV word order, Epitomization, is identified and analyzed. This type, previously unaccounted for, is distinguished on the basis of its discourse function. The left‐most (preposed) NP is a proper noun whose referent represents the epitome (superlative value) of some scalar attribute, while the referent of the subject NP is salient in the context. Use of Epitomization conveys a belief on the part of the speaker that the referent of the subject NP is negatively evaluated with respect to the referent of the left‐most NP on a scale representing the attribute in question.