Formal/informal distinction in pronouns
- Category
- Nominal Categories - Pronominal categories
- Notes
- Polite pronominal variants or differential avoidance of pronouns
| Language |
Feature Status |
Grammatical Notes |
Source |
Etymology Notes |
General Notes |
Phylogenetic Code |
| Cahuilla |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cupeño |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Luiseño |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Serrano |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kitanemuk |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kawaiisu |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Timbisha |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Western Mono |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Chemehuevi |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Southern Paiute |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Southern Ute |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Shoshone |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Comanche |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Idaho Shoshone |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Northern Paiute |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Gabrielino |
no |
|
|
|
|
|
| Achagua |
no |
|
Wilson & Levinsohn 1992: 23 |
|
|
|
| Resígaro |
no |
|
Allin, 1976: 176-177 |
|
|
|
| Bare |
no |
|
Aikhenvald, 1995: 22 |
|
|
|
| Piapoco |
no |
|
Galindo, 2002: 184 |
|
|
|
| Yukuna |
no |
|
Shauer & Shauer 2000: p. 518 |
|
|
|
| Yavitero |
no |
|
Mosonyi, 1987: p. 41, 48 |
|
|
|
| Wapishana |
no |
|
Santos, 2006: 185 |
|
|
|
| Wayuu |
no |
|
Mansen & Captain, 2000: p. 798 |
|
|
|
| Tariana |
no |
|
Aikhenvald, 2003: 177 |
|
|
|
| Apurinã |
no |
|
Facundes, 2000: 345-346 |
|
|
|
| Asheninka Apurucayali |
no |
|
Payne 1981:34; Payne 1983:9192 |
|
|
|
| Maipure |
no |
|
Zamponi 2003:21 |
|
|
|
| Yanesha' |
no |
|
Duff-Tripp 1997:61-8 |
|
|
|
| Kinikinau |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Baure |
no info |
more likely not |
Danielsen 2007 |
|
|
|
| Nanti |
no |
|
Michael, 2008. p. 348 |
|
|
|
| Paresi |
no |
|
Rowan 1978:xiii |
|
|
|
| Palikur |
no |
|
Launey 2003:65 |
|
|
|
| Yine |
no |
|
Matteson 1965:106 |
|
|
|
| Añun |
no |
|
Patte 1989:55 |
|
|
|
| Bora |
no |
|
Seifart - 2005: 52-55 |
|
|
|
| Makiritare |
no |
|
Hall 1988: 282 |
|
|
|
| Makushi |
no |
|
Abbott 1991: 99 |
|
|
|
| Eñepa |
no |
|
Tosantos 1977:19-20 |
|
|
|
| Pemon |
no |
|
de Armellada 1999: 12 |
|
|
|
| Guna |
no |
|
Smith texts |
|
|
|
| Naso |
no |
|
Quesada 2000 |
|
|
|
| Ika |
no |
|
Frank 1985:34 |
|
|
|
| Kogi |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cabecar |
no |
|
Bourland 1976:56 |
|
|
|
| Guaymí |
no |
|
Quesada 2008:69 |
|
|
|
| Damana |
no |
no pronoun that states formality, but honorifics may be present |
|
|
|
|
| Sikuani |
no |
|
de Kondo (Vol.1,2) - 1985; Queixalós - 2000 |
|
|
|
| Macaguan |
no |
|
Buenaventura - 1993 |
|
|
|
| Aguaruna |
no |
|
Overall 2007:154 |
|
|
|
| Northern Emberá |
no |
|
Mortensen 1999:42-3 |
|
Catío |
|
| Waorani |
yes |
|
Peeke 1973:128 |
|
There is a "honorific" form of pronouns but it seems that they do not distinguish number |
|
| Ingá |
no |
|
Levinson 1978:6 |
|
|
|
| Matses |
no |
|
Fleck:241 |
|
|
|
| Mapudungun |
no |
|
Zúñiga 2006, p. 96-7 |
|
|
|
| Páez |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Quechua Ayacuchano |
no |
|
Perroud 1972:37-8 |
|
|
|
| Tikuna |
no |
|
Montes 2004b:88-89 |
|
|
|
| Urarina |
no |
|
Olawsky:213 |
|
|
|
| Waunana |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Andoke |
yes |
kə̃ (2pl) can also be used with females of child-bearing age, not older, not younger - possibly encodes the possibility that the woman in question is pregnant (mother + fetus = plural in some respect?) |
Landaburu 1979: 150 |
|
|
|
| Puinave |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Central Aymara |
no |
|
Huayhua Pari 2001: 202 to 204 |
|
|
|
| Kakua |
no |
|
Bolaños fieldnotes |
|
|
|
| Kaingang |
no info |
|
Goncalves 2011:12 |
|
|
|
| Minica Witoto |
no |
no distinction between familiar and formal |
Minor and Minor 1982. p.10 |
|
|
|
| Hup |
no |
|
Epps 2008 |
|
|
|
| Nadëb/Roçado dialect |
no |
|
Weir 1984 |
|
|
|
| Dâw |
no |
|
Martins 2004 |
|
|
|
| Desano |
no |
|
Miller 1999, p. 30 |
|
|
|
| Cubeo |
no |
|
Morse & Maxwell 1999, p. 80 |
|
|
|
| Kotiria |
no |
|
Stenzel 2004, p. 161 |
|
|
|
| Makuna |
no |
|
Smothermon & Smothermon 1993, p.36 |
|
|
|
| Koreguaje |
no |
|
Cook & Criswell 1993 31-33 |
|
|
|
| Barasano |
no |
|
Jones & Jones 1991, p.31 |
|
|
|
| Tanimuca |
no |
|
Strom 1992, p.34 |
|
|
|
| Siona |
no |
There is a way to achieve politeness, however, by using the an indicative mood instead of general imperative. |
Wheeler - 1970:141-142, 157 |
|
|
|
| Tukano |
no |
|
West and Welch 2004: 19-20 |
|
|
|
| Yanomami |
no |
|
Ramirez 1994: 209-210 |
|
no mention of polite pronouns |
|
| Ninam |
no |
|
Goodwin-Gomez, p.50-51 |
|
|
|
| Sanumá |
no |
|
Borgman 1990: p.150 |
|
|
|
| Surui |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Karitiana |
no |
|
Everett 2006:300-4 |
|
|
|
| Nheengatu |
no |
|
Cruz 2011:141 - 145 |
|
|
|
| Paraguayan Guaraní |
no |
|
Ayala 1996:28 |
|
|
|
| Aché |
no info |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kokama |
no |
|
Vallejos 2010:201-213 |
|
|
|
| Nyangumarta |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Jingulu |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Wambaya |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Bunuba |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Walmajarri |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Nyulnyul |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Warrwa |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Worrorra |
no |
|
ms7.2 |
|
|
0 |
| Garrwa |
no |
|
fpro1 |
|
|
0 |
| Gooniyandi |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Warlpiri |
no |
|
BS151 |
|
|
0 |
| Bardi |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Yugambeh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yorta Yorta |
no |
|
73 |
|
|
0 |
| Yir Yoront |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yindjibarndi |
no |
|
72 |
|
|
0 |
| Yidiny |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Yanyuwa |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Yandruwandha |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Yan-nhangu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yalarnnga |
no |
|
16 |
|
|
0 |
| Woiwurrung |
no |
|
70 |
|
|
0 |
| Wirangu |
yes |
|
79 |
|
|
1 |
| Wemba-Wemba |
no |
|
H 37-8 |
|
|
0 |
| Warumungu |
No |
|
28-29 |
|
|
0 |
| Wangkumara |
no |
|
r4-6 |
|
|
0 |
| Uradhi |
No |
|
354 |
|
|
0 |
| Paakantyi |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Pitta-Pitta |
No |
|
194 |
|
|
0 |
| Pintupi |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Nyungar |
no |
|
d51 |
|
|
0 |
| Nhanta |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Ngiyambaa |
no |
|
123, 126 |
|
|
0 |
| Ngayawang |
No |
|
10 |
|
|
0 |
| Muruwari |
no |
|
90 |
|
|
0 |
| Mpakwithi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mayi-Yapi |
No |
|
53-54 |
|
|
0 |
| Martuthunira |
no |
|
279 |
|
|
0 |
| Marrgany |
No |
|
303 |
|
|
0 |
| Kuuk Thaayorre |
No |
|
87 |
|
|
0 |
| Kuku Yalanji |
no |
|
74 |
|
|
0 |
| Kugu-Nganhcara |
No |
|
397 |
|
|
0 |
| Kaurna |
No |
|
7-8 |
|
|
0 |
| Kalkatungu |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Jaru |
no |
|
215 |
|
|
0 |
| Guugu-Yimidhirr |
No |
|
66 |
|
|
0 |
| Gureng Gureng |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Gupapuyngu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gumbaynggirr |
no |
|
283 |
|
|
0 |
| Gugu-Badhun |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Yuwaalaraay |
No |
|
47 |
|
|
0 |
| Dyirbal |
No |
|
50 |
|
|
0 |
| Duungidjawu |
no |
|
51 |
|
|
0 |
| Djinang |
No |
|
33 |
|
|
0 |
| Djabugay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diyari |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Dharuk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dharawal |
no info |
|
49-52 |
|
|
x |
| Darkinyung |
no |
|
28-29 |
|
|
0 |
| Bularnu |
no info |
|
50 |
|
|
x |
| Biri |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Bidjara-Gungabula |
no |
|
83 |
|
|
0 |
| Batyala |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Arabana |
no |
|
117-8 |
|
|
0 |
| Alyawarr |
no |
|
92 |
|
|
0 |
| Nyikina |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Yawuru |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ngarinyin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yulparija |
No |
|
29 |
|
|
0 |
| Wathawurrung |
no |
|
75 |
|
|
0 |
| Mathi-Mathi |
no |
|
90 |
|
|
0 |
| Hunter River and Lake Macquarie |
no |
|
40 |
|
|
0 |
| Thanggati |
no |
|
23 |
|
|
0 |
| Katthang |
no |
|
64 |
|
|
0 |
| Panyjima |
no |
|
214-215 |
|
|
0 |
| Ngarinyeri |
No |
|
23 |
|
|
0 |
| Kurrama |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Yingkarta |
no |
|
|
|
|
0 |
| Githabul |
No |
|
15 |
|
|
0 |
| Gunya |
No |
|
304 |
|
|
0 |
| Kunjen |
No |
|
87 |
|
|
0 |
| WesternTorres |
no |
|
FO 136 |
|
|
0 |
| Wakaya |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Yindjilindji |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Bandjalang |
No |
|
78 |
|
|
0 |
| Ngaatjatjara |
No |
|
52 |
|
|
0 |
| Arrernte |
Yes |
|
101 |
|
|
1 |
| Kokatha |
No |
|
48 |
|
|
0 |
| Karajarri |
No |
|
30 |
|
|
0 |
| Pitjantjatjara |
No |
|
Y 18 |
|
|
0 |
| Ritharrngu |
No |
|
44 |
|
|
0 |
| Warrgamay |
No |
|
41 |
|
|
0 |
| Warluwarra |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Warnman |
No |
|
33 |
|
|
0 |
| Djapu |
no |
|
52 |
|
|
0 |
| Bilinarra |
no |
|
5.1.1 |
|
|
0 |
| Wiradjuri |
no info |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Aghu-Tharnggala |
No |
|
62 |
|
|
0 |
| Narungga |
No |
|
58 |
|
|
0 |
| Tharrkari |
No |
|
16 |
|
|
0 |
| Wajarri |
No |
|
71 |
|
|
0 |
| Warungu |
no |
|
174-5 |
|
|
0 |
| Adnyamathanha |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yagua |
no info |
|
Payne and Payne 1990 |
|
|
|
| Baniwa |
no |
|
Ramirez 2001 |
|
|
|
