Diachronic clues to grammaticalization phenomena in the Cimbrian CP

Saying that a minority language proves to be quite a fascinating object of research when it comes to describing how it is affected by a stronger (standard) language is quite obvious. However, the way in which elements (both lexical and functional) borrowed from the stronger language infiltrate the weaker one is far less evident. Observing the Cimbrian CP, I will take into account both the complementizer ke (Italian loanword, competing with the earlier az) and other (CP-related) particles that I take to have undergone a process of reanalysis from a diachronic point of view, putting forward that the "expansion" of loanwords (especially functional ones) does not take place randomly. I also will show that synchronic data - especially when it comes to the so-called semi-speakers - can confirm this hypothesis. Key words. Complementation, minority language, cartography.