Sunday, May 25, 2008

Some information on Dogon and Tommo-So

While reviewing the SIL's (2004) Sociolinguistic Survey of the Dogon Language Area, I came across some more information on the language family and Tommo-So specifically, which I thought I would share.

Dogon languages tend to be SOV and, to my excitement, have quite interesting morphology. The report says that they are known for having rich, agglutinating verbal morphology (my favorite) but isolating nominal morphology, with "even number and case markers being clitics". 

Tommo-So is apparently a language with a rich oral tradition; it seems even other language groups may recite stories or sing songs in Tommo-So. Tommo speakers apparently have the reputation of putting everything into song! Now that's my kind of language.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oooooh...did you say, "clitics"?! Different ones for both number AND Case?!?! My mouth is watering. Gather all you can, my dear. Person-Case-Constraint? Number-Case-Constraint? If either of these constraints are attested, you'll have a publishable paper. And if NEITHER is attested, even more so! Looking forward to living vicariously through you all of next year.