ツツバ語の所有表現 : オセアニアの言語との比較

Abstract

The Tutuba language has several types of expressions to denote possession, including a verb meaning 'exist', four main types of possessive noun phrases, and a clause by which possessor is topicalized. This paper focuses on the possessive noun phrases, and considers how the semantic relation between a possessed and a possessor would be reflected in possession form. The four main types of possessive noun phrases are as follows. (1) 【Direct construction】 Possessive pronominal (the possessor) is suffixed to the NP head (possessed). (2) 【Indirect construction】 Pronominal possessor suffixing to a classifier follows to the Possessed. (3) 【Direct construction Link type】 When the possessor is either a proper noun or a NP, and possessed is bound noun, the Linker is required on the possessed. (4) 【Indirect construction Link type】 When the possessor is either a proper noun or a NP as in (3), and possessed is free noun as in (2), the linker suffixes to the one of four classifiers. The possessed nouns of the Direct possessive constructions, (1) and (3), are kinship terms, part-whole relationships and body parts, etc. The possessed nouns of the Indirect possessive constructions, (2) and (4), are foods, general things, animals, messages, etc. The four classifiers which occur in indirect constructions show the relationship between possessed and possessor are follows: ①. a- edible ②. ma- drinkable ③. bula- animals and plants ④ general things, personal property. The four possessive constructions imply the intimation between the possessed and possessor. In (1) and (3) constructions, a semantic relation between a possessed and a possessor is strong, although in (2) and (4), a semantic relation between a possessed and a possessor is less strong than the Direct construction and possession is temporally.