Datapoint Kriol/Comparative adjective marking

Older Kriol speakers in the Victoria River District do not use comparative constructions in the strict sense, i.e. involving comparative marking of any sort (this corresponds to the lack of such constructions in at least some of their traditional languages). Usually, the properties of two referents are compared explicitly, without marking of the adjective (see also Feature 42 "Comparative standard marking"). Acrolectally, comparative forms involving mo 'more' plus the unmarked form of the property expression, or (lexicalized) double marking (mo beta 'better', mo haya 'higher') are used, as the examples show. The suppletive form beta 'better' is also found on its own.
Comparative constructions are not discussed in the literature on Kriol surveyed here, so presumably they are not used in "heavy" Kriol in the other varieties either.

Values

Adjective is not marked Frequency: 70.0%

Example 25-206:
Dijan lilbit bigwan, dijan lilwan lilbit.
Dijan
prox:adj
lilbit
somewhat
big-wan,
big-adj
dijan
prox:adj
lil-wan
small-adj
lilbit.
somewhat
This is somewhat big, this is somewhat small.
Confidence:
Intermediate

Adjective is marked Frequency: 30.0%

Example 25-159:
Hi nomo faindim broken leg, nathing, bon bin kam [...] beta, hilap.
Hi
3sg
nomo
neg
faind-im
find-tr
broken
broken
leg,
leg
nathing,
nothing
bon
bone
bin
pst
kam
come
[...]
[...]
beta,
better
hil-ap.
heal-up
He didn’t find a broken leg any more, the bone had gotten better, it had healed. (Doctor in later consultation of a patient with a broken leg.)
Example 25-165:
Thet min imin goap mo haya.
Thet
dem
min
mean
im=in
3sg=pst
goap
go.up
mo
more
haya.
higher
That means he climbed up higher.
Example 25-204:
Mo isiwan.
Mo
more
isi-wan.
easy-adj
[This is] easier. (Referring to a Jaminjung expression during an elicitation session)
Example 25-205:
Beta den asgimbat kantrimen.
Beta
better
den
than
asg-im-bat
ask-tr-prog
kantrimen.
countrymen
[It's] better than asking countrymen (i.e. family). (Context: saving money to buy a car)

Source: Angelo et al. 1998

Confidence:
Intermediate