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Lesson 15
Possessives


Vocabulary

–tha

Suffix (CP): Possessive, by birth or growth<

–the

Suffix (CP): Possessive, for no known or acknowledged reason

–thi

Suffix (CP): Possessive, by chance

–thu

Suffix (CP): “False” possessive (Partitive); also used to mean “about”

–tho

Suffix (CP): Possessive, for all other reasons, including law, custom, etc.

Additional Vocabulary

beth

home

ith

light

oda

arm

óol

moon

rosh

sun

Possessive Case

[Verb (Neg) CP–Possessive–S]

To use the Láadan possessive, you must first decide what sort of “ownership” is involved. Is it because of birth, as with “my arm” or “my mother?” If so, add the ending “–tha.”

  Is it for no known reason—for example, a task that you just ended up with somehow, inexplicably, and that is now “your” work? Then the proper ending is “–the.”

  Is it a phony ownership, marked in English by “of” but really involving no possession, as in “a heart of stone” or “a collection of books?” If so, use the ending “–thu.”

  Is it by luck, by chance? Use the ending “–thi.”

  In any other situation, when ownership is due to law or custom or anything not included in the other forms, use the ending “–tho.” You would use “–tho” if you were not certain of the reason but were quite sure there was one and that it was legitimate.

The Láadan Possessive word order may seem awkward at first because English expresses the possessive by stating the possessor first and the thing possessed afterward; arguably, this indicates that the possessor is more important in English while the thing possessed is more important in Láadan.

Finally, you cannot add the Possessive markers directly to the name of a person or animal. Instead, you add a pronoun to carry the case ending—like this:

Báa ril meháya hena? listen to this pronounced

Are the siblings beautiful?

Báa ril meháya hena netha? listen to this pronounced

Are your (by birth) siblings beautiful?

Báa ril meháya hena Méri betha? listen to this pronounced

Are Mary’s (by birth) siblings beautiful?

The sequence “Méri betha” is literally “Mary | X1 + POSSbirth.” You cannot say “Méritha” to mean “Mary + POSSbirth.” (Note that this rule does not apply to names of places and of times—only living or once-living beings.)

Possessive Pronouns

The Demonstrative pronouns, “hi/hizh/hin,” can stand in for the noun in a Possessive phrase; this construction would be translated “mine” or “ours” or “yours” or “his/hers” or “theirs” rather than “my [noun]” or “our [noun]” or “your [noun]” or “his/her [noun]” or “their [noun].”

Bíi wil u dem wa. listen to this pronounced

Would that the window be open.

Bíi wil u dem letho wa. listen to this pronounced

Would that my window be open.

Bíi wil u hi netho wa. listen to this pronounced

Would that yours be open.

Bíi wil mehu hin Therísha betho? listen to this pronounced

Would that Teresa’s (many) be open.

Interrogative Possessive

In a wh-question, the item of information being requested is represented by “bebáa.” In such a question where the possessor is the item of information being requested, “bebáa” would take the possessive suffix: “bebáatha” (whose, by birth), “bebáathe” (whose, for no known or acknowledged reason), “bebáathi” (whose, by chance), “bebáatho” (whose, for other valid reason), or “bebáathu” (of what, as in “container of what” or “house made of what”).

Báa rilrili tháa dala? listen to this pronounced

Might the plant be thriving?

Báa rilrili tháa dala netho? listen to this pronounced

Might your (other valid reason) plant be thriving?

Báa rilrili tháa dala Shuzhéth betho? listen to this pronounced

Might Suzette’s plant be thriving?

Báa rilrili tháa hi Shuzhéth betho? listen to this pronounced

Might Suzette’s be thriving?

Báa rilrili tháa dala bebáatho? listen to this pronounced

Whose plant might be thriving?<

Báa rilrili tháa hi bebáatho? listen to this pronounced

Whose might be thriving?

Examples

Bíi ril medo oda wo. listen to this pronounced

I suppose arms are strong.

Bíi ril medo oda netha wo. listen to this pronounced

I suppose your (by birth) arms are strong.

Bíi ril medo oda Ánetheni betha wo. listen to this pronounced

I suppose Anthony’s arms are strong.

Bíi ril medo hizh omátha wo. listen to this pronounced

I suppose the teacher’s arms are strong.<

Báa ril medo oda bebáatha? listen to this pronounced

Whose arms are strong?


Bíi eril mebalin ra rul wa. listen to this pronounced

The cats were not old.

Bíi eril mebalin ra rul nethi wa. listen to this pronounced

Your (by chance) cats were not old.

Bíi eril mebalin ra rul Elízhabeth bethi wa. listen to this pronounced

Elizabeth’s cats were not old.

Bíi eril mebalin ra hizh shonáthi wa. listen to this pronounced

The peacemaker’s were not old.

Báa eril mebalin ra rul bebáathi? listen to this pronounced

Whose cats are not old?


Bíi rilrili loyo lanemid wa. listen to this pronounced

A dog may be black.

Bíi rilrili loyo lanemid nethe wa. listen to this pronounced

Your (no known reason) dog may be black.

Bíi rilrili loyo lanemid Máthu bethe wa. listen to this pronounced

Matthew’s dog may be black.

Bíi rilrili loyo hi belidáthe wa. listen to this pronounced

The carpenter’s may be black.

Báa rilrili loyo lanemid bebáathe? listen to this pronounced

Whose dog may be black?

Notice that, in this example set, the speaker knows or acknowledges no reason why this dog should belong either to me, to Matthew, or to the carpenter; that’s why she chose to use the possessive suffix –the.”

Bíi aril rahíya éezh wi. listen to this pronounced

Clearly, the goat will be large.

Bíi aril rahíya éezh netho wi. listen to this pronounced

Clearly, your (other valid reason) goat will be large.

Bíi aril rahíya éezh Ána betho wi. listen to this pronounced

Clearly, Anna’s goat will be large.

Bíi aril rahíya hi ábedátho wi. listen to this pronounced

Clearly, the farmer’s will be large.

Báa aril rahíya éezh bebáatho? listen to this pronounced

Whose goat will be large?

Notice, in the third of each of these sets, that the name of a living or once-living person or animal doesn’t take suffixes directly. We must insert the pronoun “be” following the name and apply the suffixes to the pronoun instead.

Bíi laya dim wáa. listen to this pronounced

The container is red, I’m told.

Bíi laya dim udethu wáa. listen to this pronounced

The container of rocks is red, I’m told.

Bíi laya hi udethu wáa. listen to this pronounced

That of rocks is red, I’m told.
The one of rocks is red, I’m told.

Báa laya dim bebáathu? listen to this pronounced

The container is red; what is it a container of?
The container of what is red?

In this example we see the “false possessive” (or, as students of other case languages may be comfortable calling it, the “partitive”) case. In Láadan, this is Possessive in form, even though there is no actual ownership involved. The third example in this set is specifying, since containers being red had already been being discussed, whether that applied to the one containing rocks.

Báa léli omid? listen to this pronounced

Is the horse yellow?

Báa léli omid Hérel beth? listen to this pronounced

Is Carol’s horse yellow?

Báa léli omid lanethe Hérel betho? listen to this pronounced

Is Carol’s friend’s horse yellow?

Báa léli omid lanethe edinetho Hérel betha? listen to this pronounced

Is Carol’s cousin’s friend’s horse yellow?

Here we see how Láadan can “stack” Possessives. The horse belongs (by chance—perhaps won in a contest?) first to Carol, then to her friend, and lastly to her cousin’s friend; the friend “belongs” (other valid reason) first to Carol, then to Carol’s cousin; the cousin “belongs” (by birth) to Carol. Note how the Possessive suffix applied to the pronoun (rather than directly to Carol’s name) changes in each sentence.

In most cases, formal writing would avoid this type of structure—in English or in Láadan. However, in speech or informal writing, it would not be at all uncommon.

Exercises

Translate the following into English.

1

Bé aril lalom i amedara onida ehomátha wa. listen to this pronounced

2

Báa ril menédeshub medathim sherídan Másha betha i héena déelahátho? listen to this pronounced

3

Bíi eril medush merahu áath belidethu lezhetho wáa. listen to this pronounced

4

Bíi théethad shumáad yáababí Máyel betho wi. listen to this pronounced

5

Báa abahul bal berídanetho bebáatha? listen to this pronounced

6

Bíi eril ranime áana hoshem Bétheni betha wáa. listen to this pronounced

Did you note the new word in #6? It’s a straightforward opposite, so you may have just translated it without noticing that we haven’t actually seen it before: “ranime” (to be unwilling) [ra- (NON) + nime (be willing)].

Incorporate the Láadan for the English noun phrase into the sentence; translate the sentence into English before and after.

7

Báa eril owahal bud wo. listen to this pronounced

the traveler’s clothes

8

Bíi rilrili dozh hal wo. listen to this pronounced

the assistant’s (no reason) work

9

Bé eril zho dizh wa. listen to this pronounced

my grandmother’s kettle

10

Báa aril dudoth éesh? listen to this pronounced

whose (few of them, by gift) sheep

11

Bíi wil medibé mebenem shem wa. listen to this pronounced

a singer’s offspring

12

Bíi ril them den edin wi. listen to this pronounced

a dancer’s cousin

Did the word “traveler” in #7 give you any trouble? It’s a straightforward “doer” formation based on “im” (to travel): imá (traveler).

How about “assistant” in #8? It’s also a straightforward “doer” formation based on “den” (to help): dená (helper; assistant).

#10 has a minor “trick question” component: “ownership by gift” is one of the meanings included in –tho (possessive: all other reasons, including law, custom, etc.). Congratulations if you perceived that for yourself!

Did you have any trouble with “singer” in #11? It’s a straightforward “doer” formation based on “lalom” (to sing): lalomá (singer). A note about this word: there is another related form based on “lom” (song); –á,” the “doer” suffix, also means “maker” so “lomá” [lom (song) + –á (doer/maker)] means “songwriter” or “maker of songs:” a meaning distinct from “lalomá” (singer).

Translate the following into Láadan.

13

The songwriter’s (no reason) flower is tiny and green.

14

Williiam’s great-niece began to teach.

15

Whose (many of them) great-aunt is menopausing?

16

The light of the moon is cool and white, but the sun’s light is warm and yellow.

17

Do the needleworker’s parents want to be safe?

18

The alien’s (by chance) creatures were unable to speak [trusted report].

In #13, did the word “tiny” give you pause? Consider that “tiny” means “very small”: either híyahal [híya (be small) + –hal (Degree: unusual)] or híyahul [híya (be small) + –hul (Degree: extreme)] would serve.

In #17, did you easily forn a word for “needleworker?” Consider that a “needleworker” is “one who does needlework:” dathimá [dathim (needlework) + –á (doer/maker)].

Another new word in #20: “to be unable” is a straightforward opposite of “thad” (to be able): “rathad.”

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Answers

1

I promise the education-specialist’s family will sing and dance.

2

Do Marsha’s niece and the gardener’s heart-sibling intend to needlework?

3

The doors of our house had to be closed.<

4

Clearly, Michael’s fledgling is about to be able to fly (but not any minute).

5

Whose aunt’s bread is extremely fragrant?

6

Bethany’s grandchild was unwilling to sleep, I heard.


7

I suppose the clothing was unusually warm.

Báa eril owahal bud imátho wo. listen to this pronounced

I suppose the traveler’s clothing was unusually warm.

8

I suppose the work might be easy.

Bíi rilrili dozh hal denáthe wo. listen to this pronounced

I suppose the assistant’s (no reason) work might be easy.

9

Upon my word, a kettle was singing.

Bé eril zho dizh hothuletho letha wa. listen to this pronounced

Upon my word, my grandmother’s kettle was singing.

10

Will a sheep a try to follow?

Báa aril dudoth éesh bebáazhetho? listen to this pronounced

Whose (few of them) sheep will try to follow?

11

Would that the offspring promise to stay.

Bíi wil medibé mebenem shem lalomátha wa. listen to this pronounced

Would that the singer’s offspring promise to stay.

12

Clearly, the cousin needs to help.

Bíi ril them den edin amedarahátha wi. listen to this pronounced

Clearly, the dancer’s cousin needs to help.


13

Bíi ril híyahul i liyen mahina lomáthe wáa. listen to this pronounced

14

Bíi eril nahom hosherídan Wílem betha wa. listen to this pronounced

15

Báa ril zháadin hoberídan bebáanetha? listen to this pronounced

16

Bíi rahowahil i líithi ith óolethu wi, izh owa i léli ith roshethu. listen to this pronounced

17

Báa menéde meyom thul dathimátha? listen to this pronounced

18

Bíi eril merathad medi mid néeháthi wáa. listen to this pronounced

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