On Grammar Functions of Tone Modification in Liangshan Yi Language

There is a special grammar phenomena in Liangshan Yi such that grammartical relations can be changed through tone change. When personal pronouns combine withverbs, from the view of personal pronouns, the sentences are in SV pattern if personal pronouns are mid-level tones, while the sentences are in OV pattern when personal pronouns are sub-high tones. From the view of verbs, the sentences are in SV pattern if verbs are low-falling tones while the sentences are in OV pattern when verbs are sub-high tones. This paper discusses how case relations can be marked with grammatical tone in the Yi language.