Deriving OV word order in Kono

Abstract

The Mande languages are known for their strict SOVX word order (Gensler 1994,Creissels 2005, Nikitina 2009). Following analyses laid out in Koopman (1992) andSmith (2022, 2024b), we argue that Kono’s surface OV word order is derived fromunderlying VO order. Evidence includes a class of complex predicates whose internal arguments obligatorily follow the verb, CP complements which occur post-verbally, and coordinated direct objects, in which the coordinator and second conjunct can occur post-verbally. The internal arguments of canonical verbs raise forCase-licensing, while the internal arguments of complex predicates remain post-verbal as they are Case-licensed by their encoding adposition.