Datapoint Kriol/Comparative standard marking

Older Kriol speakers at least in the Victoria River area do not use comparative constructions in the strict sense, i.e. involving a standard of comparison (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. 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, and a particle den 'than' as marker of standard is attested but very rare. Comparative expressions without a standard are also attested (see examples given for Feature 41 "Comparative adjective marking").

Values

Conjoined marking Frequency: 87.5%

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.
Example 25-207:
[...] I bin lilbit dip det wota. [...] o::: lilbit shelawan.
[...]
[...]
I
3sg
bin
pst
lilbit
somewhat
dip
deep
det
dem
wota.
water
[...]
[...]
o
oh
lilbit
somewhat
shela-wan.
shallow-adj
[We started to cross the creek, but] it was (too) deep. [So I went to a different place and tried there]. Oh, (it was) shallow(er) there.

Source: Hudson 1985: 178

Confidence:
Intermediate

Particle marking Frequency: 12.5%

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