Datapoint Haitian Creole/Generic noun phrases in subject function

The bare singular noun phrases under Value 2 are very frequent in proverbs and popular sayings.

Values

Bare singular noun phrase in languages with definite article Frequency: 53.8%

Example 49-82:
Piti piti zwazo fè nich li.
Piti
little
piti
little
zwazo
bird
fè
make
nich
nest
li.
3sg.poss
Little by little, the bird builds its nest.
French: Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid.

Source: Fattier 1998: 69

Example 49-83:
Ameriken bwè koka-kola, franse bwè diven, alman bwè byè, ayisyen bwè dlo.
Ameriken
American
bwè
drink
koka-kola,
coca-cola
franse
French
bwè
drink
diven,
wine
alman
German
bwè
drink
byè,
beer
ayisyen
Haitian
bwè
drink
dlo.
water
Americans drink coke, Frenchmen drink wine, Gemans drink beer, Haitians drink water.
French: Les Américains boivent du coca-cola, les Français du vin, les Allemands de la bière, les Haïtiens de l'eau.

Source: Dejean 1982: 36

Example 49-86:
Chat manje sourit.
Chat
cat
manje
eat
sourit.
mouse
Cats eat mice.
French: Les chats mangent les souris.

Source: Dejean 1982: 8

Example 49-87:
Rat manje kann, e zandolit mouri inosan.
Rat
rat
manje
eat
kann,
cane
e
and
zandolit
lizard
mouri
die
inosan.
innocent
The rat ate sugar cane and the innocent lizard died from it.
French: Le rat a mangé de la canne à sucre et c'est le lézard innocent qui en meurt.

Source: Hilaire 1988: 35

Example 49-88:
Chen anraje mòde menm mèt li.
Chen
dog
anraje
rabid
mòde
bite
menm
even
mèt
master
li.
3sg.poss
The rabid dog bites even its owner.
French: Le chien enragé mord même son maître.

Source: Hilaire 1988: 35

Example 49-89:
Dlo manyòk pa lèt.
Dlo
water
manyòk
manioc
pa
neg
lèt.
milk
Manioc milk is not milk.
French: Le lait de manioc n'est pas du lait.

Source: Hilaire 1988: 35

Confidence:
Very certain

Singular noun phrase with indefinite articles Frequency: 23.1%

Example 49-84:
Nou konnen yon vè aleksandren toujou gen douz silab.
Nou
1pl/2pl
konnen
know
yon
indf
vè
toward
aleksandren
alexandrine
toujou
always
gen
have
douz
twelve
silab.
syllable
We know / You (pl) know that an alexandrine always has twelve syllables.
French: Nous savons / Vous savez qu'un alexandrin a toujours douze syllabes.

Source: Desmarattes 1983: xix

Confidence:
Very certain

Singular noun phrase with definite article Frequency: 23.1%

Example 49-85:
Fanm ayisyèn nan chèlbè.
Fanm
woman
ayisyèn
Haitian
nan
def
chèlbè.
pretty
Haitian women are pretty.
French: La femme haïtienne est coquette.

Source: Joseph 1988: 164

Confidence:
Very certain