TUNDRA NENETS
SUMMARY
Tundra Nenets has distinct converbs, i.e. non-finite verb forms heading syntactically subordinate clauses. Some of these are same-subject (SS) converbs, which require coreference between the subject of the converbial clause and the subject of the superordinate clause. Some of these are also licensed by two subjects which are in a part-whole relation with each other but which do not strictly corefer. In such constructions, the subject expressing the part must be overtly coded for possession, but the types of possessive relations licensing SS-converbs are not restricted.
Third person lexical possessors are coded using either a dependent-marking strategy (genitive on the possessor) or a double-marking strategy (genitive on the possessor, possessive agreement in person and number on the possessed noun). Only doubly-marked possessors can participate in switch-reference. In addition, there can only be one doubly-marked possessor per clause and their distribution is restricted by third person arguments.
The possessor and the possessed noun behave like a constituent w.r.t. focussing and coordination and they cannot be separated by clause-level adverbs.
See also Altai, Bashkir, Forest Enets, Karaim, Khalkha Mongolian, Khanty (Eastern), Khanty (Northern), Kirghiz, Old Turkic, Shor, Tundra Enets, Turkish, Tuvan (Altai), Tuvan (Jungar), Tuvan (Todža), Udmurt, Uyghur, Uzbek, Yukaghir (Kolyma), Yukaghir (Tundra).
LANGUAGE PROFILE
EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF PIPS
- Possessors internal to phrase cannot be demoted to an oblique or promoted to subject independently of the possessed entity that heads their phrase.
- Possessor has adnominal genitive case-marking, indicating dependency within the noun phrase.
- The internal status of PIPs is evidenced by standard constituency tests such as separability by clause-level elements, focussing, pronominalization and coordination.
KEY SOURCES
Irina Nikolaeva (fieldnotes).
Nikolaeva, Irina. 2014. A grammar of Tundra Nenets. Berlin: de Gruyter.
Nikolaeva, Irina and András, Bárány. 2019. Proximate possessors, in András Bárány, Oliver Bond and Irina Nikolaeva (eds), Prominent internal possessors, 228-258. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
