Datapoint Tayo/Order of adjective and noun

Attributive adjectives occur only in a few cases. Mostly, adjectives are postmodified by relative clauses: ma vwa kas sa le ŋgra [1SG see house REL SI big] 'I see a big house.' A few other adjectives (mostly qualifying adjectives) can follow the noun directly. However, there is also a set of adjectives such as gra 'big, long', peti 'small' or vje 'old' that occur prenominally.

Values

Modifying adjective precedes noun Frequency: 70.0%

Example 57-3:
nu ale vwa ŋgra ʃef nde Paita
nu
1pl
ale
go
vwa
see
ŋgra
big
ʃef
chief
nde
prep
Paita
Paita
We will go make a visit to the big chief of Paita.
Confidence:
Certain

Modifying adjective follows noun Frequency: 30.0%

Example 57-1:
ma vwa kas sa le ŋgra
ma
1sg
vwa
see
kas
house
sa
rel
le
si
ŋgra
big
I see the big house.
Example 57-123:
ma mbwar ndolo-la sa le sal
ma
1sg
mbwar
drink
ndolo-la
water-dem/def
sa
rel
le
si
sal
dirty
I am drinking the dirty water.

Source: Ehrhart 1993: 201

Example 57-124:
sepol ndrwat
sepol
shoulder
ndrwat
right
right shoulder

Source: Ehrhart 1993: 146

Confidence:
Certain