raq and 'ak: Limiting and Countering: Limiting and Countering

This article uses principles from Relevance Theory to distinguish the functions of the limiters raq and 'ak. It argues that raq always constrains a countering interpretation on the material that it introduces. In other words, the presence of raq indicates that an existing assumption is to be contradicted or eliminated. In contrast, the constraint on interpretation imposed by 'ak is simply that of limitation, without countering overtones (an effect often conveyed by English "just"). Consequently, when introducing a countering proposition, 'ak does not emphasize the contrast, as others have claimed. Rather, it limits or minimizes the contrast, often with the effect of strengthening another assumption.