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LanguageQuestionSubquestionColorParameterValuePreference
Mongolian59present1NA
Standard Mandarin59present1ND
Newari59present1
Polish59present1

(59) Are there 'mermaid' constructions?

Alternatives to be checked: yes / no

Form: [[Clause] Noun Copula]

Japanese (Japonic)

[Ima Hanako=ga dekake-ta] tokoro=da.

now Hanako=NOM go.out-PST place=COP.NPST

'Hanako has just gone out now.'

Literally: '[Hanako went out now] a place is.' (Tsunoda)

Explanation: According to Tsunoda, mermaid constructions are:

(a) mono-clausal despite having an embedded clause and usually have the form [[Clause] Noun Copula] as in the Japanese example.

They are furthermore characterized by the following features:

(b) The Noun is an independent word (not a clitic) that is a noun.

(c) The subject of the Clause and the Noun are non-coreferential.

'(d) The Clause can be used as a sentence by itself.

(e) The Clause is not the subject of the 'Noun + Copula'.'

Please check for nouns such as 'plan', 'place', or 'appearance'.

Background: Mermaid constructions are almost exclusively attested in languages with (S-)O-V order and largely restricted to Eurasia. Please also include quasi-mermaid constructions that might differ from the prototype in several respects (e.g., using existentials instead of copulas).