Datapoint Early Sranan/Ability verb and epistemic possibility

The lexical verb sabi (fu) can be used to express mental ability, whereas kan is used to express physical ability, general ability, root possibility, and permissibility. In addition, man fu can be used to express ability in late 18th- century Sranan. They cannot be used for epistemic possibility; epistemic possibility is expressed by sa.

Values

Ability verb cannot express epistemic possibility

Example 1-131:
Mi no ha tiffi moro, mi no kann kau.
Mi
1sg
no
neg
habi
have
tifi
teeth
moro,
more
mi
1sg
no
neg
kan
can
kaw.
chew
I don't have teeth anymore, I cannot chew.

Source: Schumann 1783: 81

Example 1-132:
Da somma no sabi va swem.
Da
det.sg
soma
person
no
neg
sabi
know
fu
to
swen.
swim
That person cannot swim (doesn't know how to swim).
German: Der Mensch kann nicht schwimmen [op.cit.]

Source: Schumann 1783: 169

Example 1-133:
Ju sa mann va tjarri datti?
Yu
2sg
sa
fut
man
be.able
fu
to
tyari
carry
dati?
that
Are you able to carry that?
German: Wirst du dieses tragen können? [op.cit.]

Source: Schumann 1783: 107

Example 1-134:
Da mastra a za wandi fo slibi lange mi na netti kaba a za fom mi alle de.
Da
det.sg
masra
master
a
3sg.sbj
sa
fut
wani
want
fo
to
sribi
sleep
nanga
with
mi
me
na
at
neti
night
kaba
and
a
3sg.sbj
sa
fut
fon
hit
mi
1sg
ala
all
de.
day
The master, he will want to sleep with me in the night, and he'll beat me up every day.
Dutch: De Meester zel van Nagt by myn willen Slaapen en dan zal ik alle Daagen slaagen krygen. [op.cit.]

Source: van Dyk ca. 1765: 64

Confidence:
Certain