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Similative and Equative Constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective
Edited by Yvonne Treis and Martine Vanhove
[Typological Studies in Language 117] 2017
► pp. 359–386

Chapter 14
The morpheme ‑(ä)ŋä in Xamtanga

Functions and grammaticalisation targets

This chapter examines the distribution and main grammaticalisation targets of the element -(ä)ŋä in Xamtanga, a Central Cushitic (Agaw) language of the northern Ethiopian highlands. Within the noun phrase, ‑(ä)ŋä functions as a standard marker of similative as well as equative constructions. It is also used as a derivational morpheme involved in the formation of glottonyms. At a clausal level, first, ‑(ä)ŋä takes part in the expression of several kinds of subordinate clauses associated with the expression of both real and hypothetical similarity (i.e. similative, equative, simulative, imaginative, and counterfactual clauses). Second, ‑(ä)ŋä has grammaticalised into a marker of complement, accord, immediate anteriority, and avertive clauses.

Keywords: Xamtanga, Agaw, similarity, subordinate clauses, grammaticalisation
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Case marking
  • 3.The morpheme -(ä)ŋä in the nominal system
    • 3.1Similative and equative constructions
    • 3.2Glottonyms
  • 4.An overview of subordinate clauses in Xamtanga
    • 4.1Person agreement on the verb
    • 4.2Relative clauses
    • 4.3Adverbial clauses
      • 4.3.1Affirmative adverbial clauses
        • 4.3.1.1Adposition-like subordinators
        • 4.3.1.2Primary vs. secondary subordinators
        • 4.3.1.3Synthetic vs. analytic subordinate verb forms
      • 4.3.2Negative adverbial clauses
        • 4.3.2.1Synthetic negation
        • 4.3.2.2The “other clause type” strategy
        • 4.3.2.3The -ink’ä-strategy
        • 4.3.2.4The relative verb form + postposition strategy
        • 4.3.2.5The relative verb form + copula strategy
  • 5.Similative and equative clauses
    • 5.1Similative clauses
      • 5.1.1From similative phrases to similative and simulative clauses
      • 5.1.2From simulative clauses to imaginative clauses
      • 5.1.3From imaginative clauses to counterfactual clauses?
    • 5.2Affirmative equative clauses
    • 5.3Negative equative clauses
  • 6.Grammaticalisation targets of -(ä)ŋä in the verbal system
    • 6.1Complement clauses
      • 6.1.1Declarative complement clauses
      • 6.1.2Interrogative complement clauses
    • 6.2Accord clauses
    • 6.3Immediate anteriority clauses
    • 6.4Avertive clauses
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 31 May 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.117.15dar
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