Universal 1292: definite article (possessed NPs with a kinship term as head noun) ⇒ definite article (possessed NPs with a non-kinship term as head noun)
Universal 1292: definite article (possessed NPs with a kinship term as head noun) ⇒ definite article (possessed NPs with a non-kinship term as head noun)
Original
If possessed NPs with a kinship term as head noun show the definite article, then so do possessed NPs with a nonkinship term as head noun.
Standardized
IF possessed NPs with a kinship term as head noun show the definite article, THEN possessed NPs with a nonkinship term as head noun show the definite article.
Keywords
definite article, possessive pronoun, kinship term
The tendency to omit the definite article is greater when the possessed noun is a kinship term. Some examples from Haspelmath (1999: 236):KINSHIP NOUN: Italian: (*la) mia madre [(the) my mother]; Bulgarian: majka(*-ta) mi [mother(-ART) my]; Nkore-Kiga: (*o-)mukuru wangye [(ART-)sister my]. OTHER HEAD NOUN: Italian: la mia casa [the my house];Bulgarian: kola-ta mi [car-ART my];Nkore-Kiga: e-kitabo kyangye [ART-book my].
The tendency to omit the definite article is greater when the possessed noun is a kinship term. Some examples from Haspelmath (1999: 236):KINSHIP NOUN: Italian: (*la) mia madre [(the) my mother]; Bulgarian: majka(*-ta) mi [mother(-ART) my]; Nkore-Kiga: (*o-)mukuru wangye [(ART-)sister my]. OTHER HEAD NOUN: Italian: la mia casa [the my house];Bulgarian: kola-ta mi [car-ART my];Nkore-Kiga: e-kitabo kyangye [ART-book my].