Chapter 13 Anaphora
This chapter describes the structure and use of various anaphoric expressions,
including reflexives (section 1), reciprocals (section 2), and various types of
null pronouns and null anaphors (sections 3-5). As the pronominal forms of
Madurese are detailed in Chapter 3 section 3 and more extensively in Chapter 7
section 3, they are not treated here.
1. Reflexives
Reflexive meaning is primarily expressed by means of the word dibi', which
means ‘alone’ or ‘only’. This is reflected in sentences such as (1) and (2).
(1) Rika ngennal-lagi aba'na dibi' ka Evi.
Rika AV.know-AGI to Evi
‘Rika introduced herself to Evi.’
(2) Ali a-careta bab aba'na dibi' ka Hadi.
Ali AV-story about to Hadi
‘Ali told Hadi about himself.’
In both (1) and (2), the complex form aba'na dibi' corefers with the subject,
Rika and Ali, respectively. The complex form is made up of the third person
pronoun aba'na and dibi', looking very much like the complex forms herself
and himself in English. As described in Chapter 7 section 7.3, aba'na is itself a
complex form made up of aba' ‘body, soul’ and the definite suffix -na. Thus, in
dialects making use of aba'eng, aba'eng dibi' is also fully acceptable.
(3) Dhokter juwa mareksa aba'eng dibi'.
doctor that AV.examine
‘The doctor examined herself.’
Reflexives for first and second persons can be formed through the use of
aba'na dibi', (4a) and (5a), or can be marked simply with aba', as in (4b) and
(5b), an instance of using a plain pronoun to mark reflexive (see section 1.3).