Modern Vilamovicean — Complex Decay of a Case System

Abstract

The article analyzes synchronic properties and diachronic tendencies that characterize the case system of Vilamovicean (Wymysorys). The author studies the issue of morphological case in five word classes (nouns, pronouns, articles, numerals and adjectives), explains dynamics that couple them (e.g. analogical developments and borrowing from one paradigm to an other) and proposes a holistic classification of the entire case system within an framework of linguistic typology, grammaticalization theory and cognitive mapping. The evidence indicates that, overall, the Vilamovicean case system is highly advanced. By following the common grammaticalization cline of case marking, the language develops from being more morphologically oriented towards a stage where case is marked syntactically. However, the progression along this grammaticalization path is dissimilar in different sub-systems. It is most advanced in nouns and numerals, less advanced in adjectives and least advanced in pronouns and articles.