Tone and clause structure in Bùlì

In this article, I analyze tonal patterns of Bùlì (Mabia/Gur) verbs in sentences. I argue that Bùlì requires a more articulated structure for TP, namely, a projection of both INFL1 and INFL2. INFL1 corresponds to the standard TP and is the locus of the EPP. INFL2, on the other hand, is the locus of a generalized finite/non-finite marking on the clause. I show that this more articulated structure for TP is key in understanding the intricate tonal interactions we find in the clause between segmental and tonal morphology of negation, tense, and aspect marking.