(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).