The inflection of demonstratives refers to the phenomenon in which morphologically distinct forms of a demonstrative are used to mark case. From a typological perspective, sentences featuring demonstratives in adnominal (attributive) function[1] with a verbal predicate should be considered. [2] Morphonophological alternation alone does not mark case.[3] A demonstrative attaching to a finite verb as an affix or a clitic does not constitute demonstrative inflection. If multiple strategies exist to mark case in the given language, the primary (structurally dominant) strategy should be considered.

Types:

NoCase: The language does not have case inflection.

NoDem: The language does not have demonstratives.

Dem=Aff: Demonstratives are affixes and cannot be inflected.[4]

Dem=Clit: Demonstratives are clitics and cannot be inflected.[5]

NoDemCase: Demonstratives are standalone words, but cannot be marked for case.[6]

DemAff: Case is marked on demonstratives using suffixes.

AffDem: Case is marked on demonstratives using prefixes.

DemCaseTon: Case is marked on demonstratives using tone.

DemCaseInflex: Case is marked on demonstratives using phonemic differences in the noun stem (internal flexion).

CaseMix: Case is marked on demonstratives using various strategies, with no dominant strategy.

[1] Pronominal demonstratives, which can be used independently, usually display the same inflectional paradigm as nouns, and thus are not considered from a typological perspective.

[2] In terms of this parameter, it is irrelevant whether case forms mark the arguments of the verb or other adverbial functions.

[3] If, for example, case is marked through the use of affixes, it is irrelevant whether the affix attaches to the base form of the demonstrative or a variant. Morphological variation of the demonstrative is only relevant when it functions to mark case.

[4] This value applies if the noun is marked in the same case even without the demonstrative affix.

[5] This value applies if the noun is marked in the same case even without the demonstrative clitic.

[6] The noun a demonstrative modifies, however, may be marked for case. This should be detailed in the commentary.