Glossary term I

Inalienable Noun

An inalienable noun is a noun that

  • refers to something viewed as permanently and necessarily possessed, and
  • is thus obligatorily expressed as possessed.

It may require a distinguishing possessive form.

(Awa, Papua New Guinea)

In Awa, the body part and kinship terms are expressed as inalienable nouns.

  1. McKaughan and Loving 1973, 31
  2. Crystal 1980, 181
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