Number[grnd]: number of the ground of a postpostion
| Values: | Sing | Plur |
Number[grnd] encodes the number of the internal argument of a postpostion, i.e., the reference object, relatum or ground (also landmark in cognitive grammar), which is realized in Nheengatu in certain circunstances by the non-contiguity prefix s-. These postpostion forms correspond to a prepositional phrase formed by a preposition and a personal pronoun in languages such as English.
Sing: singular ground
A pronominal third person singular ground is incorporated into the postpostion in form of the non-contiguity prefx s. Otherwise the ground is realized by a noun phrase or an inactive prefix, also called second class pronoun.
Examples
- Kunhã-itá upuapuãmu suakí rupí umaã arama aé umungitá aintá. “Women milled around him to see if he would court them”. (Amorim, 444, adap., apud Avila 2021)
- Waimĩ uyapí pisá sesé, upupeka reté aé, urasú suka kití. “The old woman threw the net over him, enveloped him completely, took him to her house.” (Magalhães, 165, adap., apud Avila 2021)
- Ape ana suú-itá umamana ixé, upuãmu uyuyari se resé useréu arama aé. “At that moment the animals surrounded me, stood up against me to lick him.” (Amorim, 181, adap., apud Avila 2021)
- Yuri, rewapika iké, se ruakí, rembaú arama. “Come, sit here, next to me, to eat.” (Amorim, 363, adap., apud Avila 2021)
- Yawara uyumutari reté uyenú tatá ruakí. “The dog really likes to lie down near the fire.” (Hartt, 329, adap., apud Avila 2021)
Plur: plural ground
This is realized by a noun phrase or a second class pronoun.
Examples
- _[…] pe ruayana yuruparí uyatimana pe ruakí kwayé leão usasemu waá yawé, […]. _ “[…] the devil, your enemy, walks around you like a roaring lion, […].” (O Novo Testamento em nyengatu, 1 Pedro 5:8, adap., apud Avila 2021)
- […] aintá ruakí rupí musapiri panapaná uyuyuíri. “[…] near them three butterflies came and went.” (Amorim, 237, adap., apud Avila 2021)
- Kwá wasaí yayutima waá aité kwá yamaã waá uka-itá ruakí[…]. “O açaí que plantamos é o que vemos perto das casas […].” (Payema, 29, adap., apud Avila 2021)