4.2.2. The position of the possessive pronoun
As explained above, LSC has two possessive pronouns: poss and own. When poss is used, it always appears after the possessed noun.
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a) book poss2 borrow.
‘Will you lend me your book?’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 40)
wh
b) group 1a tutor poss who.
‘Who is the tutor of class 1A?’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 40)
c) car poss2 poss1 use separate.
‘We have to use our own cars separately.’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 40)
Similarly, the most natural possession of own in the noun phrase is after the possessed noun.
wh hn
a) language own lsc.
‘My own language is LSC.’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 41)
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b) federation own catalan.
‘My own Federation is the Catalan one.’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 41)
When the possessor is referred to by a personal pronoun instead of a possessive pronoun, it can appear either before or after the possessed noun. However, when the pronoun occurs after the noun, it is interpreted as being more marked:
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a) ix2 computer ix3 type can.
‘Can s/he type on your computer?’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 37)
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b) computer ix2 ix3 use can.
‘Can s/he use your computer?’
(Quer & GRIN, 2008: 37)
In some cases, the personal pronoun can be doubled within the noun phrase, appearing both before and after the noun, but it receives an emphatic interpretation of the possessor.
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ix2 computer ix2 ix3 type can.
‘Can s/he use your computer?’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 38)
There exists also the option of doubling the possessor using signs of different lexical categories, namely by using a noun and a personal pronoun:
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pilar ix3 book interesting.
‘Pilar’s book is interesting.’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 38)
When the linker of is used with personal pronouns, the order of possessum and possessor is flexible. Besides, the pronouns can also be duplicated when co-appear with the possessive marker, occurring both before and after it.
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berta ix1 of ix1 namesign.
‘Berta is my name sign.’
(based on Quer & GRIN, 2008: 39)