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Is there a copula for predicate nominals?

Summary

Is there a copula in use in an equative sentence when the predicate is a nominal? The copula must be expressed in at least some equative sentences with predicate nominals but need not be obligatory in these constructions. Both verbal copulas and pro-copulas (e.g. demonstratives or personal pronouns that link the subject and predicate nominals) are relevant for this feature. Please note that adjectives are not included within the category of ‘nominals’ here. Please note copulas may be free forms, affixes, or clitics.

Procedure

1. Code 1 if there is an element which can be used with predicatively used nominals, even if it is restricted to certain contexts, and even if this marker has other functions and may, for example, function as demonstrative elsewhere.
2. Code 0 if the grammar describes equative copular clauses with predicate nominals and describes these as using a ‘zero copula’.
3. Code 0 if there is no copula in use in an equative sentence, even if there is a copula in use for locational predicates and/or adjectival predicates.

Examples

Haitian (ISO 639-3: hat, Glottolog: hait1244)

Coded 1, a copula is required for predicate nominals. No copula is required for predicates consisting of adjectives or expressing location.

a. Predicate nominals:

M  se  jounalis.
I  COP journalist
‘I'm a journalist.’ (Valdman 1988: 83)

b. Predicative adjectives:

Li bon.
it good
‘It is good.’ (Valdman 1988: 83)

Abui (ISO 639-3: abz, Glottolog: abui1241)

Coded 0. In Abui, there is no copula that links the nominal predicate with its argument. In the example, the bare NP kalieta ‘old person’ serves as a nominal predicate.

raha   kalieta 
chief  old.person
‘The chief is an old person.’ (Kratochvíl 2007: 161)

Further reading

Frajzyngier, Zygmunt, Holly Krech & Armik Mirzayan. 2002. Motivation for copula in equational clauses. Linguistic Typology 6(2). 155–198.

Stassen, Leon. 2013. Zero copula for predicate nominals. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds), The world atlas of language structures online. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

References

Kratochvíl, František. 2007. A grammar of Abui: A Papuan language of Alor. Leiden: Leiden University. (Doctoral dissertation.)

Valdman, Albert. 1988. Ann Pale Kreyol: An introductory course in Haitian Creole. Bloomington: Indian University.

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Patron

Jay Latarche and Jeremy Collins