Datapoint Diu Indo-Portuguese/Indefinite pronouns

The indefinite pronouns under investigation need to be classified separately, given that one (viz. ãge 'someone') consists of a synchronically indivisible form, while the other is generic-noun-based (ãgu/kwɔlki koyz 'something', composed of an indefinite quantifier and the generic noun koyz 'thing'). This bipartite system reflects the input provided by (modern) Standard Portuguese, in which the former special indefinite for inanimate referents algo 'something' is considered archaic and pragmatically highly marked, being substituted by the generic-noun-based construction alguma coisa (and also qualquer coisa) 'something'.

Values

Generic-noun-based indefinites Frequency: 50.0%

Example 39-51:
Dig aŋũ koys a mĩ.
Dig
tell.npst
aŋũ
some
koys
thing
a
dat
mĩ.
1sg.obl
Tell me something.
Confidence:
Very certain

Special indefinites Frequency: 50.0%

Example 39-50:
Aŋe si ver ad dize ki es asĩ purtəgez kẽ fal?
Aŋe
someone
si
if
ver
see.inf
ad
irr.npst
diz-e
say-inf
ki
comp
es
dem
asĩ
thus
purtəgez
Portuguese
kẽ
who
fal?
speak.npst
If someone sees, (they) will say: "Who speaks Portuguese like this?".

Source: Cardoso 2009: 232

Confidence:
Very certain