Grammaticalization in Kaakyi: From a temporal adverb to a future tense marker

Abstract

This paper discusses the linguistic phenomenon of grammaticalization in relation to the development of the future tense marker kϵ´ 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 ɔ̀kϵ´ ‘tomorrow’, to the functional morpheme, kϵ´-, expressing future time. Second, it demonstrates the loss in the morphological and syntactic properties of ɔ̀kϵ´ 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 de-categorization, 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.