Ronny Meyer

Topics and topicalization in Amharic

Abstract The paper examines the information structure of Amharic sentences with regard to topicalization. The morphemes -mma, -ss, and -mm in Amharic have been ascribed a function as topic markers (cf. Blejer 1986, Gasser 1983, Hetzron 1973, Kapeliuk 1978, Leslau 1995, etc.). From a synchronic point of view we disagree with Leslaus (1995) analysis of -mma as a combination of -mm ‘TOP:N’ and -a(a) ‘TOP:E’. Further, we argue that only the morphemes -mma and -ss can be considered topic markers while -mm is rather a focus marker. Topics in Amharic are generally marked by fronting the constituent in question to the sentence-initial position. Those which are additionally marked by the morphemes -mma and -ss are contrastive, i.e., ‘as for’-topics, while topics only marked by fronting are non-contrastive.

The enclitic -mm in Amharic: reassessment of a multifunctional morpheme

Abstract In this article we examine the enclitic -mm in Amharic and its claimed functions as topic marker and coordinative conjunction. The enclitic -mm has multiple translations into English, and would thus seem to constitute a multifunctional morpheme. In contrast to previous analyses, we argue that the several interpretations of enclitic -mm in discourse are due to different context-dependent readings of its single function, namely as contrastive focus marker.