(Komi-Permyak)

GenSuff (PossSuff)

GenSuff: Possession is expressed through the use of a suffix on the possessor.

PossSuff: Possession is expressed through the use of a suffix on the possessed noun.

(1)nasta-lönpań
NastyaGENspoon
’Nastya’s spoon’ (Ponomareva 2010: 56)

(2)zonka-lönponmyvkyda.
boyGENdogclever
’The boy’s dog is clever.’ (L. P.)

(3)nyvka-lönpon-ysśödröm-a.
girlGENdog3SGblackcolourADJ
’The girl’s dog is black.’ (L. P.)

(4)melyďďöt-anasta-liśńebög-sö.
IreadPRS.1SGNastyaABLbookACC.3SG
’I am reading Nastya’s book.’ (L. P.)

In Komi-Permyak adnominal possessive constructions the nominal possessor is obligatorily marked (1). The possessee is usually unmarked (2), though occasionally it can bear possessive agreement (3). Adnominal possessive constructions functioning as a direct object have ablative case (4). Possessive agreement tends to be obligatory with inalienable body part names (cf. F. Gulyás et al. 2018). Apart from expressing possession, 2SG and 3SG possessive markers can indicate definiteness, topicality, or other functions in this language (cf. Rédei 1978: 61, Bartens 2000: 122, Fraurud 2001, Nikolaeva 2003).

Author: Nikolett F. Gulyás


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