Datapoint Early Sranan/Object relative clauses

The status of the relativizer disi is difficult to establish. Case-marking is not at issue, but it may be preceded by a preposition; see Feature 94 "Instrument relative clauses". A pronominal status is also suggested by the occurrence of disi in relativized possessive constructions such as Wan pikien disi Mama lange tatá lassi. 'A child whose mother and father are dead' (van Dyk c1765: 11).

Values

Relative pronoun Frequency: 90.0%

Example 1-26:
Bikasi allasanni, dissi buku takki va mi, sa komm so.
Bikasi
because
ala-sani,
all-thing
disi
rel
buku
book
taki
say
fu
of
mi,
1sg
sa
fut
kom
come
so.
so
Because everything that the Book says about me will happen like that.

Source: Schumann 1781: 253

Example 1-227:
No wan fassie dem sa kan teekie foe hollie wan nengre foe bakara diessie dem sa kissie effie diesie sa ronnowe com na dem.
Nowan
no
fasi
manner
den
3pl
sa
fut
kan
can
teki
take
fu
to
hori
hold
wan
one/art.indf.sg
nengre
black
fu
of
bakra
white
disi
rel
den
3pl
sa
fut
kisi
catch
efi
or
disi
rel
sa
fut
lonwe
run.away
kon
come
na
loc
den.
3pl
In no way shall they be permitted to keep a Black belonging to the Whites, whom they shall capture or who shall run away to them.

Source: SPT 1762

Example 1-231:
Oe plee da klosie diesie joe go tekie?
O=pe
q=place
da
det.sg
krosi
cloth
disi
rel
yu
2sg
go
go
teki?
take
Where is the cloth that you were going to get?
Dutch: Waar is 't goed dat gy hebt gaan haalen. [op.cit.]

Source: Weygandt 1798: 109

Confidence:
Certain

Zero and gap Frequency: 10.0%

Example 1-229:
Mino kan blibi alle da takki den negere ben doe na mi.
Mi=no
1sg=neg
kan
can
bribi
believe
ala
all
da
det.sg
taki
story
den
det.pl
nengre
negro
ben
pst
du
do
na
to
mi.
1sg
I can’t believe all the stories (which) the slaves have been telling me.
Dutch: Ik kan dat allemaal niet gelooven dat de Neegers myn verteld hebben. [op.cit.]

Source: van Dyk ca. 1765: 94

Example 1-230:
Da jam jam mastra zendi lange boote na tra moen mi blibi pikien morre a kaba.
Da
det.sg
n'nyan
food
masra
master
seni
send
nanga
with
boto
boat
na
at
tra
other
mun
month
mi
1sg
bribi
believe
pikin
little
moro
more
a
3sg.sbj
kaba.
finish
The food (which) master sent by boat the other month, I believe it is almost finished.
Dutch: Het Eeten dat myn Heer in de voorleeden Maand gezonden heeft is haast al op. [op.cit.]

Source: van Dyk ca. 1765: 85

Confidence:
Very certain