From topic to object: Grammaticalization of differential object marking in Romanian

Abstract

In this paper, we provide new evidence for the hypothesis that in some languages, differential object marking (DOM) may have evolved from marking of the information structural category of topicality. While Iemmolo (2010) suggested that topic left-dislocation might have facilitated the evolution of DOM, and Dalrymple and Nikolaeva (2011) argued for systematic marking of secondary topics as the source of DOM, we suggest a third possible grammaticalization source within the topical domain: the prepositional marking of embedded topics. In particular, we show that the Romanian DO (Direct Object) marker pe had a function as marker of embedded topics in Old Romanian. Moreover, we show how DOM in Old Romanian may additionally have been facilitated by the re-analysis of embedded topics as themes in certain constructions.

DOM and Nominal Structure—Some Notes on DOM with Bare Nouns

“…It is important to note that relating DOM to information structure, generally signaling a type of (familiarity) topic is common in both descriptive and more formally oriented accounts. For Romance, see especially Leonetti (2004Leonetti ( , 2008, Belletti (2018), Escandell-Vidal (2009), Hill (2013Hill ( , 2017, Onea and Mardale (2020), Hill and Mardale (2021), a.o., and the for general cross-linguistic picture, Dalrymple and Nikolaeva (2011).…”

Virginia Hill & Alexandru Mardale, The diachrony of differential object marking in Romanian (Oxford Studies in Diachronic and Historical Linguistics 45). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021. Pp. xiv + 272.

“…Repurposing for differentially marking direct objects is hypothesized to have evolved from semantic bleaching, the loss of case assignment capacity, and reanalysis. In Old Romanian, the result of these processes is the construction of a topic marker, for example, by extension of the 'concerning/aboutness' meaning to DOM when the speaker's intention is to place the direct object in the spotlight (Onea & Mardale 2020). The Modern Romanian outcome is a marker for animacy and specificity.…”