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Article published In:
Issues in Diachronic Construction Morphology
Edited by Muriel Norde and Graeme Trousdale
[Constructions and Frames 15:2] 2023
► pp. 257–281

A linguistic cycle for speech orienters

Constructional changes in the development and loss of quotative markers in Bantu languages

| Canada Institute of Linguistics | SIL International

This paper describes the way in which represented speech is introduced in ten eastern Bantu languages, and explains the different constructions used as stages of a linguistic cycle. In this cycle, verbs of speech develop into quotative markers, and eventually cease to be used to introduce direct speech. This cycle can be understood as a systematic and unidirectional series of constructional changes.

Keywords: constructionalization, Diachronic Construction Grammar, quotative markers, represented speech, reported speech
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Represented speech, speech orienters, and constructions
    • 1.2Data
  • 2.Stages in the linguistic cycle
    • 2.1Contrasting speech verbs: Alternative microconstructions
    • 2.2Default speech verb
    • 2.3Incipient quotative marker
    • 2.4Obligatory quotative marker
    • 2.5Unstable quotative marker
  • 3.Conclusion
    • Contrasting speech verbs: [X‑Vspeech RepSp]
    • Default speech verb: [X‑say RepSp] and [X‑Vspeech X‑say RepSp]
    • Incipient quotative marker: [X‑say RepSp] and [X‑Vspeech QM RepSp]
    • Obligatory quotative marker: [(X‑Vspeech) QM RepSp]
    • Unstable quotative marker: [X‑Vspeech (QM) RepSp]
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 8 January 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/cf.00075.nic
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