Word order of demonstratives (Synja Khanty)

DemN: The adnominal demonstrative appears directly preceding the noun; neither an article nor classifier appears in the phrase.


(1) wānt-a tam norǝm-n!

look-imp.2sg det shelf-loc

‘Look at this shelf! (It might be there.)’ (Onina 2009: 57)(Onina 2009: 57)


(2) śi muzej rōzina ūlicaj-ǝn ū-l.

det museum Rozhina street-loc be-prs.3sg

’The museum is at Rozina Street.’ (Onina 2009: 64)


In Synja Khanty, proximal (tami) and distal (tumi, śi, śit) demonstratives precede their noun heads. No other element can appear between the demonstrative and the noun (cf. Honti 1984: 74–75, Onina 2009: 31).

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás