Grammaticalization in Ethiosemitic with Comparisons to Oromo
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Date
2016-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to identify, describe, and explain selected instances of
grammaticalization in Ethiosemitic languages and Oromo. Body part terms, similatives,
demonstratives, and allatives are the major topics considered in the study. Body part terms
are observed grammaticalizing into markers of spatial, temporal and logical relations. In the
North Ethiosemitic languages the Semitic root msl is found developing into a comitative and
temporal marker. The evolution of similatives into complement, temporal, and purpose clause
markers is also observed in the majority of Ethiosemitic languages and in Oromo. The word
for ‘one’ (and) is proposed as an alternative etymology for the Amharic similative marker
ǝndä. Relative and genitive markers are analyzed with a demonstrative origin as a common
source. The genitive-relative element yä- is treated as a result of polygrammaticalization from
a common demonstrative element.
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Grammaticalization in Ethiosemitic