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Grammaticalization in Kaakyi: From a temporal adverb to a future tense marker
This paper discusses the linguistic phenomenon of grammaticalization in relation to the development of the future tense marker k1´ in Kaakyi (Kwa, Niger Congo). Focusing on some characteristic features of grammaticalization such as metaphorical extension, phonetic reduction, morphosyntactic reductio...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
2025
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| Summary: | This paper discusses the linguistic phenomenon of grammaticalization in
relation to the development of the future tense marker k1´ in Kaakyi (Kwa,
Niger Congo). Focusing on some characteristic features of grammaticalization such as metaphorical extension, phonetic reduction, morphosyntactic
reduction and the fusion of elements, the paper examines the paths along
which the future tense marker has developed. First, it shows the extension of
the meaning of the time adverbial ɔ̀k1´ ‘tomorrow’, to the functional
morpheme, k1´-, expressing future time. Second, it demonstrates the loss in
the morphological and syntactic properties of ɔ̀k1´ and a gain in some
properties characteristic of its use as a functional morpheme. Third, two of
Hopper’s (1991) principles of grammaticalization, divergence and decategorization, are shown to be applicable in the development of the marker.
Kaakyi appears to be the only Kwa language to have so far been identified as
deriving its future tense marker from a temporal adverb. |
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