Datapoint Sango/Position of indefinite article in the noun phrase
Although mbeni sometimes appears to be used as an indefinite marker, it may be something else. (Note that it is derived from mbe or mba 'the other part of [...]' and ni the determiner.) One might say that mbeni selects one from many; in some instances it might mean 'a certain.' I should think that the indefinite use may have been influenced by the way English-speaking missionaries used it, but this is just a guess.
Values 
Indefinite article is preposed
- Example 59-41:
-
mbeni nzoni zo ake na kodoro so apembenicertainnzonigoodzopersona-kepm-copnaprepkodorovillagesodemapenegThere's not one good person in this village.
- Example 59-42:
-
ala mu mbeni melenge okoala3plmutakembenisomemelengechildokooneThey took one child.
Source: Samarin 1967
- Confidence:
- Very certain