Differential Object Marking in Abruzzian Romani, between Indo-Aryan Heritage and Italo-Romance Patterns

Abstract

This study examines Differential Object Marking (DOM) in Abruzzian Romani, a Romani variety spoken in Abruzzo and Molise, and shaped by prolonged contact with southern Italo-Romance dialects. Even though DOM is a Proto-Romani feature still preserved in many dialects, Abruzzian Romani displays innovative strategies to mark the DOM. Marked objects are thus realized through two strategies: the preposition kə with nouns, and locative case marking with personal pronouns. The analysis reveals a pattern replication of Italo-Romance dom, extended to common nouns and pronominal forms, with significant variation between the two analysed subcorpora. The findings suggest an ongoing grammaticalization process, with DOM marking spreading to new categories, including interrogatives, indefinites and demonstratives.