Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/49258

In this paper, I examined characteristics of -lkAn, a proprietive suffix in Ewen. Added to nominal stems, this suffix expresses possession. Nominals suffixed with -lkAn (N-lkAn) function as adnominals, predicates, and adverbials. The semantic extent of the suffix -lkAn is not limited to possession, but covers various meanings. In adverbial usage, the suffix conveys the meaning of “possession at that very moment”. The other meanings expressed by N-lkan are as follows: (i) An accompanier, when added to a noun that signifies a person, a personal pronoun, or a proper noun of person name (in adverbial usage). (ii) Clothing in a state of “on (being worn)” or “in use”, when added to a noun that signifies clothing. (iii) A quantitative unit, when added to a noun that signifies containers. (iv) A person’s age, when added to a numeral. Although the meaning of “accompanying” can be expressed by the comitative case as well as the suffix -lkAn, these two constructions are significantly different. On one hand, the comitative case suffix can co-occur with a possessive person suffix; on the other, the suffix -lkAn cannot. N-lkAn can serve as adnominals either with or without an instrumental case suffix. Without the instrumental case, it means a state of “on” or “in use”, whereas, with the instrumental case, it does not necessarily imply the state. In addition, there is an abessive form, aač -LA phrase, which is semantically opposite to the proprietive suffix -lkAn. The meaning of the aač -LA phrase covers absence, non-possession, and non-accompanying. The proprietive suffix and the abessive form share certain similarities in that they both have adnominal, predicative, and adverbial usage. However, in terms of morphosyntax, they show some differences for instance, in adverbial usage, the aač -LA phrase requires an instrumental case suffix while N-lkAn can be used as an adverbial either with or without the instrumental case suffix.