Possession
Qohenje has several different ways of indicating possession-type relationships with a clear distinction being drawn between accidental or temporary "possession", usually indicated with postpositional constructions, and permanent or inalienable possession which tends to be shown using a morphological possessive suffix.
Propositional possession (the equivalent of "have" constructions in English) find their equivalent in full verbal propositions, two of which are dealt with in the section on Ditransitives.
"Non-permanent" possession
Predications such as the size of the group or my weapon (meaning the weapon I have on me right now, which may or may not be "mine" in a more permanent sense) are usually indicated using postpositional phrases.
The postposition serves to indicate non-permanent possession of concrete objects that can be manipulated and moved around by the possessor:
For non-permanent possession of large or immobile objects, terrain, buildings etc. the postposition is used.
Abstract non-permanent "possession" is usually indicated with the postposition .
"Permanent possession"
Possessive relationships considered permanent or inalienable are indicated using one of three suffixes on the possessor, depending on speech-level. The Qohenje possessive does not cover the translation of measurements such as a glass of water. Such things are partitive expressions.
There are three grades of politeness which show the perceived relationship between the possessor and the thing possessed.
The Plain suffix covers most possibilities.
The Deferential form is used when profiling "possession" of a superior. "Deferential" hence refers to a respectful attitude of the possessor with regard to that which is possessed.
The Superior form is used to assert possession over an inferior being (animal, slave). Again, the designation "superior" refers therefore to a superior attitude of the possessor with regard to that which they possess.
Simple pronominal possession is achieved with these possessive suffixes on Independent pronouns
A full noun possessor stands before its head nominal:
Both of the possessive structures may chain:
"Permanent" possessive constructions have the unusual feature of requiring case marking on both possessor and possessed nominals for TR arguments:
but not for LMs...
Occasionally one sees (or hears) possessive LMs marked with LM clitics, but this is generally considered a grammatical error:
Pronominal possession in TR phrases appears either with full case marks on independent pronouns (formal, written style), or else with case inflected pronouns (less formal, more spoken style and never with first person AG):