Predicate Compounding in the Yi-Group: The Continuum of Grammaticalization

This monograph deals with grammaticalization of the verb in its early phase. The very productive metaphorical process which is in display in the verb-final languages ofthe Yi-group (Burmese-Lolo languages from south-West China) may be described by the Metaphor "States of affairs are objects". This Metaphor and various other sub-Metaphors are based on the notion of Transfermetaphor and the hierarchie of metaphorical processes. grammaticalization motivated by the above Metaphor happens in the larger framework of PP (Predicate-Predicate) compounds and essentially leads to products lying in the realm of Delimitation, Phase, and Resultative State. This work is meant to draw the first half of the picture of all the products of grammaticalization in the damain of the verb. The focus is on Yi languages, but comparative data from the whole range of Bermese-Lolo languages will be presented in comprehensive tables. While the similarity in sound structure of these products of grammaticalization overwhelmingly points to the genetic relatedness of the Burmese-Lolo languages, the very ingredients of the underlying metaphorical processes are much less supportive of such a conclusion.