Possessible and non-possessible nouns
From: | Gustavo Eulalio <guga@...> |
Date: | Tuesday, January 26, 1999, 20:47 |
Hi,
As I told before, I'm learning Tupi.
I found out an interesting feature in it. It has possessible and
non-possessible nouns. Explaining:
Possessible nouns are the things or people "which make part of a
whole, or are members of a relation system."
Non-possessible nouns are mostly the elements of nature, or
better, what is not seen as making part of a whole or who isn't member
of a relation system.
So:
Xe p=f3 =3d my hand
P=f3 =3d hand (Wrong, because there's no hand which doesn't make
part of a body)
it=e1 =3d stone
xe it=e1 =3d my stone (Wrong, because it's an element of nature; but
it is allowed if it is in the every-day of the person
-- like an amulet, a stone for making axes, etc.)
Are there other languages that have this feature? Any conlang?
--
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