Restriction associated with a fronted indefinite need not always take one form. It can correct an assumption about kind (‘a man, not a woman’) or about number (‘one, not two’).
Hearer's prior assumptionPossible force of «رجل جاءني»
A woman cameCorrecting the person's kind to a man
Two men cameEmphasizing a single man
No prior belief about a visitorAn ordinary first report may still be possible
Thus restriction of kind and restriction of number require distinct background contrasts.
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Fronting the Subject: Restriction, Reinforcement and the al-Jurjani–al-Sakkaki Debate
Restriction associated with a fronted indefinite need not always take one form. It can correct an assumption about kind (‘a man, not a woman’) or about number (‘one, not two’).
Hearer's prior assumptionPossible force of «رجل جاءني»
A woman cameCorrecting the person's kind to a man
Two men cameEmphasizing a single man
No prior belief about a visitorAn ordinary first report may still be possible
Thus restriction of kind and restriction of number require distinct background contrasts.