interconnections of polypredicative constructions,
grammaticalization, and tonology
The paper deals with the grammaticalization problems in Tomo Kan (Dogon family, Niger-
Congo) and, in particular, with the diachronic relationship of polypredicative constructions
and TAM markers. Dogon languages are characterized by TAM systems that seem to be diachronically unstable since markers with a similar range of meanings go back to different lexical sources in different languages of the family. TAM markers are apparently associated with
polypredicative constructions, which are very common in Dogon and preserve some of their morphosyntactic properties. At the same time, Dogon languages are characterized by complex
tonal changes triggered not only by phonological context but also by the syntactic position
of constituents. These tonal changes, frequently referred to as tonosyntax, accompany the
formation of polypredicative constructions and other syntactic phenomena. A thorough investigation of Tomo Kan TAM markers shows their tonosyntactic properties to resemble those
of polypredicative constructions. Moreover, assuming that tonosyntax of polypredicative constructions triggers certain tonal contour overlays, one can account for tonal alternations observed in TAM forms which would have been left otherwise unexplained. However, the analysis also reveals that at least two classes of TAM forms must be distinguished in Tomo Kan:
one of them inherits the tonosyntax of polypredicative constructions while the other does not.
A hypothesis is put forward that the latter class has a different source of grammaticalization
and is probably associated with verb stem incorporation rather than with polypredication.
Methodologically, the paper shows a critical role of tonology in the analysis of grammaticalization processes in tonal languages.
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