Copulas
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This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 19 Apr 2020, 17:20.
[comments] ebksg
3. EBKSG verbs
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There exist various copulas:| EBKSG Copula | Usage | English | Early Bokisig |
|---|---|---|---|
| /he/ | Inalienable possession | "I have big ears" | mu 1SGUnknown code dodohɛ big mil-za ear-DUDual (number) two he COPCopula used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate.INALInalienable (possesson) thing that can't be gained or lost |
| Existential copula (generic statements) | "There are no animals on islands" | ʔaleb island kil animal sɛ NEGNegative (polarity) not he COPCopula used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate.INALInalienable (possesson) thing that can't be gained or lost | |
| /hɛ/ | Alienable possession | "I have a big house" | mu 1SGUnknown code dodohɛ big sot house hɛ COPCopula used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate.ALAlienable (possession) thing that can be gained or lost |
| Existential copula (statements about specific instances) | "There are no animals on that island" | (sa) (DEMDemonstrative e.g. this/ that) ʔaleb island kil animal sɛ NEGNegative (polarity) not hɛ COPCopula used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate.ALAlienable (possession) thing that can be gained or lost | |
| /kun/ | Noun = noun constructions | "I am your father, Luke" | mu 1SGUnknown code dɛx-he 2SGUnknown code-GENGenitive (case) possessive.INALInalienable (possesson) thing that can't be gained or lost bata father kun COPCopula used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate Luke Luke |
Some examples based on phrases where the copula "to be" is used in English:
(ki)
(3SGUnknown code.ANIMUnknown code) lumboki
fisher kun
COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate
"He is a fisherman."
“kun” is the copula for “noun = noun” constructions; personal pronouns are frequently dropped.
(ki)
(3SGUnknown code.ANIMUnknown code) ma.hɛ
be.strong
"S/he is strong."
Stative verbs are used for predicative adjectives
(ki)
(3SGUnknown code.ANIMUnknown code) mu-he
1SGUnknown code-GENGenitive (case)
possessive.INALInalienable (possesson)
thing that can't be gained or lost ki.ʔud.ki
spouse kun
COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate
"S/he is my spouse."
This uses the same construction as the “fisherman” example above.
(ki)
(3SGUnknown code.ANIMUnknown code) mu-he
1SGUnknown code-GENGenitive (case)
possessive.INALInalienable (possesson)
thing that can't be gained or lost sot
house mɛhɛ
be.located
"He is in my house."
A "locative verb" is employed here – that is, a stative verb that expresses the location “at / inside / near”, with the location as direct object.
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