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Chapter 3. - maɾa in Mara

On the ongoing grammaticalization(s) of a Bantu ‘finish’ verb
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Abstract

This study accounts for the grammaticalization of the verb -maɾa ‘finish’ in the language varieties of the Western Serengeti branch of the Mara subgroup of Eastern Bantu. In these varieties, -maɾa is found in two different auxiliary verb constructions marking the two interrelated Phasal Polarity concepts of already and not yet. Whereas ‘finish’ in general and -maɾa cognates in particular are commonly grammaticalized into already in Bantu, the parallel development of a not yet ‑marker from the same source constitutes a much rarer development. Nonetheless, we propose that both constructions developed out of the same need to reinforce a reading of (non-)completion (and counter-factuality) and that they instantiate recurrent cyclic patterns of change significant for Eastern Bantu more broadly.

Abstract

This study accounts for the grammaticalization of the verb -maɾa ‘finish’ in the language varieties of the Western Serengeti branch of the Mara subgroup of Eastern Bantu. In these varieties, -maɾa is found in two different auxiliary verb constructions marking the two interrelated Phasal Polarity concepts of already and not yet. Whereas ‘finish’ in general and -maɾa cognates in particular are commonly grammaticalized into already in Bantu, the parallel development of a not yet ‑marker from the same source constitutes a much rarer development. Nonetheless, we propose that both constructions developed out of the same need to reinforce a reading of (non-)completion (and counter-factuality) and that they instantiate recurrent cyclic patterns of change significant for Eastern Bantu more broadly.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Section I. Diachronic approaches
  5. Chapter 1. From comparative standard marker to comparative adverb 20
  6. Chapter 2. From fear to reason 50
  7. Chapter 3. - maɾa in Mara 74
  8. Section II. Synchronic approaches
  9. Chapter 4. Tracking Jespersen’s cycle in Veronese and Bresciano 104
  10. Chapter 5. Could be, might be, maybe 124
  11. Chapter 6. The final-appendage construction in Japanese and Korean 147
  12. Chapter 7. New perspectives on phonological erosion as an aspect of grammaticalization 176
  13. Section III. Interactive contexts
  14. Chapter 8. On the development of discourse markers from elliptical structures 198
  15. Chapter 9. On the grammaticalization of ideophones 237
  16. Chapter 10. An emerging final particle 263
  17. Index 283
Different Slants on Grammaticalization
This chapter is in the book Different Slants on Grammaticalization
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.232.03ber

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Section I. Diachronic approaches
  5. Chapter 1. From comparative standard marker to comparative adverb 20
  6. Chapter 2. From fear to reason 50
  7. Chapter 3. - maɾa in Mara 74
  8. Section II. Synchronic approaches
  9. Chapter 4. Tracking Jespersen’s cycle in Veronese and Bresciano 104
  10. Chapter 5. Could be, might be, maybe 124
  11. Chapter 6. The final-appendage construction in Japanese and Korean 147
  12. Chapter 7. New perspectives on phonological erosion as an aspect of grammaticalization 176
  13. Section III. Interactive contexts
  14. Chapter 8. On the development of discourse markers from elliptical structures 198
  15. Chapter 9. On the grammaticalization of ideophones 237
  16. Chapter 10. An emerging final particle 263
  17. Index 283
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