grammaticalisation

[Robert Early]

The pattern outlined by Alexandre Francois for Araki (and Bislama) is
widespread in Vanuatu languages. Note that as well as locational verbs,
posture verbs (especially 'sit', 'stand' and 'lie') may also serve as
starting points for a grammatical chain that results in progressive markers,
as has happened in e.g. Lewo of Vanuatu.
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Robert Early
Pacific Languages Unit, University of the South Pacific
PMB 072
Vila, VANUATU

early_r at vanuatu.usp.ac.fj
(+678) 22748
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