Dedicated marking - grambank/grambank GitHub Wiki
For many of the features it matters whether or not a marker is dedicated to a certain function or whether it also denotes other functions. Exactly what additional functions are allowed differs per feature. So if the marker marks X as well as a different function Y, it counts as a marker dedicated to X (as well as to Y). But if a marker marks something wider than X that often implies X or needs something extra, then it would not be dedicated.
These are some examples:
- GB037 Do demonstratives show a visible-nonvisible distinction?
- GB152 Is there a morphologically marked distinction between simultaneous and sequential clauses?
- GB126 Is there an existential verb?
In feature GB037 it cannot be the case that this distinction also marks 'far away' or 'very far away'. Items that are very far away are almost always invisible. If invisibility is only implied by the fact that something is very far away, the language does not have a visible/non-visible distinction per se. This meaning is reached by implication, not by direct denotation. To be certain that the distinction is visible-non visible, it should also be possible to use a 'non-visible' demonstrative if the referent is close by but invisible.
In the case of GB152, this marker cannot also be the marker for aspect. Many events that are encoded with imperfective aspects might have a secondary implication of simultaneity as events happening in following clauses are clearly happening at the same time. However, this is not enough for a yes in GB152, there needs to be a marker dedicated to simultaneity and/or sequentiality - aspect in this case is to vague and broad a function despite possibly implying simultaneity/sequentiality.
Lastly, in feature GB126 we are looking for an existential and/or locative verb and it cannot be the same as the verb used in property attribution (you are fierce) or the equative copula (you are a lawyer). It can be the case that the locative and/or existential verb is also used in predicative possession or comparative constructions, that is allowed. So, certain functions are explicitly allowed and others are explicitly not allowed.