Datapoint Ambon Malay/Complements of 'think' and 'want'

'Think' takes an optional complementizer, kata 'word; say',while 'want' takes no complementizer.
The 'think' clause is different both because there is an optional COMP (kata) and because the clause need not contain a subject if the COMP is used (if the COMP is not used, the construction is similar to the one for 'want'), whereas the 'want' clause cannot have a complementizer and must contain a subject. The COMP kata can only appear with cognition (think, know), perception (see, hear, feel) and mental process (remember, forget) verbs.

Values

Only 'think' complement has a complementizer

Example 68-119:
De mau de pung ana pulang.
De
3sg
mau
want
de
3sg
pung
poss
ana
child
pulang.
go.home
She wants her son to go home.
Example 68-118:
De piker kata mo ka Natsepa par peknek kalo seng ujang.
De
3sg
piker
think
kata
comp
mo
fut
ka
to
Natsepa
Natsepa
par
for
peknek
picnic
kalo
if
seng
neg
ujang.
rain
He thought he would go to Natsepa if it didn't rain.

Source: van Minde 1997: 275

Confidence:
Certain