Datapoint Diu Indo-Portuguese/Indefinite articles

The numeral ũ is used as an indefinite marker. In the overwhelming majority of occurrences, this element must be interpreted as an indefinite article rather than a numeral. The fact that it never co-occurs with the demonstrative/definite marker is additional evidence for this interpretation.

Values

Indefinite article identical to numeral ‘one’

Example 39-18:
ũ makak tiŋ i ũ crocodile.
ũ
one
makak
monkey
t-iŋ
exist-pst
i
and
ũ
one
<crocodile>.
crocodile
[Once upon a time], there was a monkey and a crocodile.

Source: Cardoso 2009: 225

Example 39-63:
Jacob ɛ ũ kɔb, el tə faze vɔs.
Jacob
Jacob
ɛ
cop.npst
ũ
one
kɔb,
snake
el
3
tə
ipfv.npst
faz-e
make-inf
vɔs.
voice
Jacob is a snake, he's imitating its voice.

Source: Cardoso 2004-2008

Example 39-64:
ũ irmã te i trey irmãw te.
ũ
one
irmã
sister
te
have.npst
i
and
trey
three
irmãw
brother
te.
have.npst
(I) have got one sister and three brothers.

Source: Cardoso 2004-2008

Confidence:
Very certain