Lalo noun particles Noun particles

44 ŋà ɔ̀-pa g ɛ là ve yò I father with come AFFIRM DECL ‘I have come tofrom Father ambiguous.’ Matisoff 1973:161

2.3.3 Lalo noun particles

Lalo has three types of noun particles Björverud 1998:74: locative particles, case particles, and topic particles. Several have been grammaticalized and serve more than one function Björverud 1998:74, 126, 128. Pronouns have a plural marker see 2.3.3.2. 2.3.3.1 Locative There are four locative noun markers meaning • ‘on’ and also grammaticalized to mark either the direct or indirect object, • ‘in front of’ and also used to mean ‘with’, • ‘in’ or ‘into,’ and • ‘around’ or ‘near’ Björverud 1998:126–131. 45 án ɪ́zà má u dɪ̀ guq child TOP 3 SG OBJ afraid ‘he children feared herhim.’ 46 ʃá.ǹ̩ ʔnuq dɪ̀ à tjh ɪ́ sɛ̀ p ɛ djə̀ maize tip on top rice seed stick on DUR ‘Rice seeds arewere sticking on the tip of the maize.’ 2.3.3.2 Case Besides the grammaticalized “object” case marker, there is a reflexive case marker, and a possessive case marker Björverud 1998:74, 122. The possessive case marker may mark either nouns or pronouns, and is obligatory with pronouns Björverud 1998:122. Noun-noun juxtaposition may indicate possession and nested possession is possible Björverud 1998:122. 47 u tsa ɣə̀ fẃ 3 SG PL POSS silver ‘their silver’ 48 ʃɪ́ntjàn máq ʔný ɣə̀ ʔlà mayor wife POSS trousers ‘the mayor’s wife’s trousers’ Björverud 1998:122 There are four topicalizers Björverud 1998:132–133, 142–143: • The two most common má ~ á, and b ɛ̀ may mark either an NP or an entire clause. • These two, and the somewhat old-fashioned nà, often topicalize subjects, but may also topicalize objects. • The fourth topicalizer lɛ usually topicalizes objects, but may also mark subjects. • They further differ in that bɛ̀ and nà mark their NP or clause as somewhat unexpected. Once a topic is established, the particle is not needed again except to mark a new topic. 49 ʔmìqvẃ tjhə̀ má dí má tjàq mà ìq son-in-law one CLF OBJ TOP feed not abide ‘They couldn’t abide feeding the son-in-law.’ 50 ʔnə́ bɛ̀ átsá pí ha thíà you TOP what do continuing EMPH ‘But what are you doing?’ Björverud 1998:144

2.3.4 Nuosu noun particles