Datapoint Kriol/Marking of possessor noun phrases

The possessor in an adnominal possessive construction is marked by the preposition blanga/bla (in the speech of younger speakers in the Victoria River variety and Fitzroy Valley variety also bo) which also has various other functions (benefactive, purpose, topic of conversation). It can be used with full NPs as well as pronominal possessors, and in both alienable and inalienable relationships. At least in the Roper River variety, proper nouns can also be juxtaposed to the possessum (Munro 2005: 180). Juxtaposition as a strategy is also available for pronominals (see Feature 37 "Marking of pronominal possessors").

Values

Adpositional or case marking of possessor Frequency: 70.0%

Example 25-5:
Dij kamel im likimbat bo dat kanggaru irrahol.
Dij
prox
kamel
camel
im
3sg
lik-im-bat
lick-tr-prog
bo
dat
dat
dem
kanggaru
kangaroo
irrahol.
ear
This camel is licking the kangaroo's ear.
Example 25-8:
bla big goana waif
bla
dat/poss
big
big
goana
goanna
waif
wife
the female ('wife') of the big goanna (which has a different name from the male)
Example 25-9:
blanga men kantri
blanga
poss
men
man
kantri
country
the man's country
Example 25-11:
blanga olgamen daga
blanga
poss
olgamen
woman
daga
food
the woman's food

Source: Sandefur 1979: 156

Example 25-12:
Ai bin faindim det kap bla det wumun.
Ai
1sg
bin
pst
faind-im
find-tr
det
dem
kap
cup
bla
dat/poss
det
dem
wumun.
woman
I found the woman's cup.

Source: Hudson 1985: 71

Confidence:
Very certain

No marking Frequency: 30.0%

Example 25-201:
[...] en det filik braja jinja.
[...]
[...]
en
and
det
dem
filik
Felik
braja
brother
jinja.
Ginger
[...] and Felik’s [Felix'?] brother, Ginger.

Source: Munro 2004: 182

Confidence:
Intermediate