On the non-possessive use of possessive suffixes in Central and Southern Selkup
On the non-possessive use of possessive suffixes in Central and Southern Selkup

Summary/Abstract: This paper is a corpus based study of the usage of the possessive suffixes of Central and Southern Selkup; the focus lies on the non-prototypical use. The data base consists of texts published in the years 1879 — 2015 which are being evaluated in a project by the German Research Foundation. The study has shown that, additionally to the prototypical possessive use, the suffixes are also used in a non-possessive sense: primarily to mark known referents to the hearer. These cases can be divided into three groups: (i) anaforic use, (ii) immediate situation use, and (iii) larger situation use. In Central and Southern Selkup, the only suffix which is used in this regard is the third person singular suffix. Its use is always optional.

• Details
• Contents