Dutch Anaphoric Dat in Definitions

Abstract. Dutch anaphoric dat has an important function in definitory exchanges. If dat is used in the recapitulation of a non-nominal definition, it increases the coherence of the defining utterance, by tying the recapitulation to the previous utterances and by permitting the switch of the focus from definiens to defmiendum. However, dat is not really coherence-building when used for left-dislocation in core-definitions. Indeed, a left-dislocated definition cannot be more coherent than a definition without interruptions and 'gaps'. The role of dat in left-dislocation is rather to permit extra focalisation and thematisation of the definiendum in non-nominal definitions, and of the definiens in nominal definitions.