Null proonouns 431
formed by using padha ‘same’ and optionally placing the definite suffix on the
predicate. This is illustrated in (65-68). Note that some speakers prefer to omit
the definite suffix.
(65) Siti ban Marlena padha kennel(-la).
Siti and Marlena same know-DEF
‘Siti and Marlena know each other.’
(66) Bambang ban Ita padha tresna(-na).
Bambang and Ita same love-DEF
‘Bambang and Ita love each other.’
(67) Bambang so Ita padha terro(-na).
Bambang and Ita same want-DEF
‘Bambang and Ita want (love) each other.’
(68) Ali so Hasan padha tako'(-eng).
Ali and Hasan same afraid-DEF
‘Ali and Hasan are afraid of each other.’
Many, but not all, speakers reject the use of saleng or patang in place of padha
in these sentences. An even larger number of speakers deem reduplicated reci-
procals unacceptable with these predicates.
3. Null pronouns
As is true of all Indonesian-type languages and many other languages of the
region, there is widespread use of null pronouns. Null pronouns can find ante-
cedents internal to the sentence they occur in or from the discourse in which
they occur. Null pronouns taking discourse referents can be both subjects and
objects. In the examples that follow, a blank underscore, ___, indicates the posi-
tion in which an overt pronoun would occur.
(69) ___ Ng-edhing kabar ja' pottra-na jareya badha neng Sampang.
AV-hear news COMP prince-DEF this exist at Sampang
‘He heard that the prince was in Sampang.’
(70) Serrena todhus pas ma-elang gemmet ya.
because embarrass then AV.CS-lost disappear yes
‘Because he was embarrassed, he disappeared.’