Demonstrative and personal pronouns in non-subject (oblique) position (Surgut Khanty)

PP~DemNonSubj: Although third-person personal pronouns exist, they can always be substituted in non-subject position by demonstrative pronouns.


(1a) īmi-nam jāst-əʌ-əm.

I woman-appr talk-prs-1sg

‘I’m talking to the woman.’


(1b) ʌüwati-nam jāst-əʌ-əm.

I he/she-appr talk-prs-1sg

‘I’m talking to him/her.’


(1c) tēmi-nam/tomi-nam jāst-əʌ-əm.

I this-appr/that-appr talk-prs-1sg

‘I’m talking to this/that.’


(2a) īmi-t-nam jāst-əʌ-əm.

I woman-pl-appr talk-prs-1sg

‘I’m talking to the women.’


(2b) ʌəɣati-nam jāst-əʌ-əm.

I they-appr talk-prs-1sg

‘I’m talking to them.’


(2c) tēmi-t-nam/tomi-t-nam jāst-əʌ-əm.

I this-pl-appr/that-pl-appr talk-prs-1sg

‘I’m talking to these/those.’


In Surgut Khanty, personal pronouns (1b), (2b) and demonstrative pronouns (1c), (2c) can substitute nouns in non-subject functions in every number.

Author: 

Márta Csepregi