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Semblative case

{{Short description|Grammatical case expressing resemblance}}

{{Citations missing|date=March 2009}}

The semblative case (abbreviated {{sc|sembl}}) is a grammatical case that denotes the similarity of one entity to another. The semblative case is sometimes referred to as the similative case.

In Wagiman

Wagiman, an indigenous Australian language, has a semblative case suffix -yiga, that is functionally identical to the -like suffix in English, as in the example:

{{interlinear|indent=3|abbreviations=SEMBL:semblative case

|gahan mamin dup-pa ga-yu jilimakkun-yiga

|that {white man} sit-ASP 3SG-be woman-SEMBL

|That white man sits like a woman}}

In Warlpiri

In Warlpiri, the semblative case can be a semantic case, i.e., it can be semantically richer and less dependent on the verb. In the example below, the

-piya ('like') suffix can act as the main predicate and can attach to a demonstrative, suggesting that it is not purely a derivational affix.

{{interlinear|indent=3

|Kardirri-nya ka nyina wirngarri-ji.

|White-FOC PRES sit.NPST barn.owl-TOP

|The barn owl is white.}}

{{interlinear|indent=3

|Kakutu-ju nyanungu-piya-juku-jala, kala kardirri-lki ka nyina wirngarri-ji

|Boobook.owl-TOP He-like-still-actually but White-now PRES sit.NPST barn.owl-TOP

|As for the boobook owl, he is still actually like him, but the barn owl is now white.}}

'The barn owl is white. The Boobook owl is just like him except that the barn owl is white.'{{cite book |author-link=Claire Bowern|date=13 September 2023 |title=The Oxford Guide to Australian Languages|publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=241 |chapter=Chapter 21: Semantic case}}

In English

Although the semblative case is not found in English, there are several semblative derivational suffixes, including -like, -ish and -esque.

:Texas Man Catches Fish With Human-Like Teeth {{cite web |url=http://www.local6.com/news/9542967/detail.html |title=Local6.com - Local News - Texas Man Catches Fish with Human-Like Teeth |accessdate=2006-07-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816033520/http://www.local6.com/news/9542967/detail.html |archivedate=2006-08-16 }}

As in many other languages, semblativity in English is marked with derivational affixes instead of being an inflectional case.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Grammatical cases}}

Category:Grammatical cases

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