Datapoint Sri Lanka Portuguese/Predicative adjectives

The unmarked construction does not use a copula. However, occasionally a copula is found and may represent the retention of an archaic construction. The adjective may take the enclitic =ley 'like'. In this case a copula is obligatory. (This construction is calqued, probably from Tamil.)

Values

Variable copula

Example 41-5:
fuula da rɔɔza, fɔɔya teem veerdi
fuula
flower
da
of
rɔɔza,
rose
fɔɔya
leaf
teem
prs.be
veerdi
green
Flower of the rose, leaf is green.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 2112

Example 41-73:
kalmunay dika trinkumaal lɔɔnji
kalmunay
Kalmunai
dika
than
trinkumaal
Trincomalee
lɔɔnji
far
Trincomalee is further than Kalmunai.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 1006

Example 41-116:
isti ɛɛru; isti juustu
isti
this
ɛɛru;
wrong
isti
this
juustu
right
This is wrong; this is right.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 4139

Example 41-117:
aka fooʈontu tambom teem botus!
aka
that
fooʈo-ntu
photo-loc
tambom
excellent
teem
prs.be
botus!
2.hon
In that photo you are [i.e look] good!

Source: Smith 1974-5: 4940

Confidence:
Certain