Re: Combined Pronouns

--- Josh Roth <Fuscian@...> wrote:

> One of my underdeveloped languages did that... but I
> can't remember which.
> Most of the "combined pronouns" were literally
> combined pronouns ... so that
> "you and them" would be someting like "youthem,"
> maybe with a phonological
> change or two.
>
> Josh Roth
> http://members.aol.com/fuscian/eloshtan.html
This is how pronouns are formed in some creoles.  I
found the following on Tok Pisin at:

http://www.angelfire.com/country/papuanewguinea/nf/u.html

we - mipela
       we (two excl) - mitupela
       we (two incl) - yumitupela
       we (three excl) - mitripela
       we (three incl) - yumitripela

The inclusive pronouns are derived from a combination
of "you me," the dual and trial add "two" or "three"
plus plural marker "pela." I wonder if there is also a
form "yumipela" for inclusive "we" with more than
three.  I have books at home that might be more
explicit; here at work I was limited to the web.

-Weiben

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