The lexicalization of causative verbs in the Yi group

This paper explores a lexicalization process in an array of Yi (⊆ Tibeto-Burman) languages spoken in Southwest China. Almost every Yi language exhibits a set of minimal pairs, called simplex-complex pairs, of the following sort. The simplex member is an adjective or verb starting with a voiced consonant (e.g. ve³³ 'sway'). The complex member is derived from the former by devoicing the initial consonant and by augmenting its valency or adding causative meaning to it (e.g. fe³³ 'wave = cause to sway'). Previous authors have treated this kind of data as a blind process of sound change and were undecided on the type of linguistic change, i.e. whether it represents a kind of grammaticalization or lexicalization. With pan-Yi data and statistical figures it is demonstrated that the sound changes constitute a phonetically and semantically motivated process of lexicalization. © Mouton de Gruyter - Societas Linguistica Europaea.