Datapoint Sri Lanka Portuguese/Predicative possession

The different constructions fulfill different functions. Dative and genitive possessor constructions seem to be used for inalienable possession and permanent possession. (No clear difference between the two emerges, except that the dative construction does not require the copula.) The locative human possessor construction is used mainly for temporary alienable possession. The nominative possessor construction seems to be used for nonhuman possession/attribution.

Values

Topic Frequency: 23.1%

Example 41-122:
neepal apaarti ree teem
neepal
Nepal
apaarti
separate
ree
king
teem
prs.be
Nepal has a separate king.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 1659

Example 41-123:
aka doos kaambra mee
aka
that
doos
two
kaambra
room
mee
foc
That has only two rooms.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 1467

Confidence:
Certain

Comitative Frequency: 23.1%

Example 41-36:
isti lav levaa maan riiva padaa keenntu teem fɔɔrsa?
isti
this
lav
immediately
levaa
take.away
maam
hand
riiva
on
pa-daa
inf-give
keem-ntu
who-loc
teem
prs.be
fɔɔrsa?
strength
To take and give in [his] hand immediately [i.e. all at once], who has the ability [for that]? OR: Who has the ability to pay the whole purchase price at once?

Source: Smith 1974-5: 5309

Example 41-126:
[istis] ravkiin kaazantu gardaatu kamandaa taam, ɔɔmintu teem naa doos alaa
[isti-s]
[this-pl]
ravkiin
violin
kaaza-ntu
house-loc
gardaa-tu
keep-pfv.ptcp
kam-andaa
cond-go
taam,
conc
ɔɔmi-ntu
man-loc
teem
prs.be
naa
tag
doos
two
alaa
there
Even if [these guys] leave [their] violin at home and go, that man has two there, no?

Source: Smith 1974-5: 5479

Example 41-127:
elintu askruva teem
eli-ntu
3sg.m-loc
askruva
rice
teem
prs.be
He has rice.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 0544

Confidence:
Certain

Genitive Frequency: 23.1%

Example 41-121:
mil mɛnijarsu inda uŋ kaaza teenski?
mil
mill
mɛnijar-su
manager-gen
inda
yet
uŋ
one
kaaza
house
teen=ski?
be=report
Does the mill manager say he has another house?

Source: Smith 1974-5: 1438

Example 41-124:
ootru, ɛlasu kambraadus teem, naa?
ootru,
other
ɛla-su
3sg.f-gen
kambraadu-s
friend-pl
teem,
prs.be
naa?
tag
Aside from that, she has friends, eh?

Source: Smith 1974-5: 5256

Confidence:
Certain

Locational Frequency: 23.1%

Example 41-120:
elipa taam kaatru poɖiyaas
eli-pa
3sg.m-dat
taam
also
kaatru
four
poɖiyaas
child
He has four children too!

Source: Smith 1974-5: 5167

Example 41-125:
avara ɔɔmipa kaziyaam teem ɔɔrasuntu [...]
avara
now
ɔɔmi-pa
man-dat
kaziyaam
chance
teem
prs.be
ɔɔras-untu
when-loc
[...]
[...]
Now, when the man has a chance [...].

Source: Smith 1974-5: 5477

Example 41-129:
elipa maal korsaam
eli-pa
3sg.m-dat
maal
evil
korsaam
heart
He has an evil heart.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 1950

Example 41-130:
elipa trees fɛɛmiya irumaans (teem)
eli-pa
3sg.m-dat
trees
three
fɛɛmiya
female
irumaam-s
sibling-pl
(teem)
(prs.be)
He has three sisters.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 4205

Example 41-131:
elipa/elintaa trees kaazas (teem)
eli-pa/eli-ntaa
3sg.m-dat/3sg.m-loc
trees
three
kaaza-s
house-pl
(teem)
(prs.be)
He has three houses.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 4206

Confidence:
Certain

Transitive Frequency: 7.7%

Example 41-128:
eli askruuva jaagardaa teem
eli
3sg.m
askruuva
rice
jaa-gardaa
pst-keep
teem
prf
He has rice.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 0542

Confidence:
Certain