Re: Construct States
| From: | JOEL MATTHEW PEARSON <mpearson@...> |
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| Date: | Wednesday, March 3, 1999, 0:17 |
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Malagasy has something similar to the construct state. To form
a possessive construction, you add the suffix "-n" to the possessed
noun. The noun phrase denoting the possessor follows the possessed
noun, and forms a phonological word with the possessed noun (usually
indicated in the orthography by writing the possessed noun and the
first word of the possessor as a single word, in some cases separated
by an apostrophe or a hyphen):
ny boki-n + sika > ny bokintsika
the book-N 1pExcl "our book"
ny boki-n + ny vehivavy > ny bokin'ny vehivavy
the book-N the woman "the woman's book"
ny boki-n + Rakoto > ny bokin-dRakoto
the book-N Rakoto "Rakoto's book"
Whether the "-n" suffix should be analysed as a construct state
suffix or something else is a matter of debate...
Matt.