possessive marking

[L.Stassen at LET.KUN.NL]

I have checked my data base (340 languages) for the type of "double-marked"
possessive construction that David Beck asked for (i.e., a construction in
which both the ATTRibute and the HEAD of the construction are marked,
giving rise to formations of the type "of-John his-father"). A first
conclusion can be that "pure" instances of this double marking are rather
rare; in most cases in which a language permits it, this double marking
appears to be a variant of either a construction with an unmarked ATTR or a
construction with an unmarked HEAD. Anyway, here is my list:

1. TURKIC. As Dan Slobin already noted, Turkish is a prime example of
double marking. Probably this goes for the Turkic family as a whole; I have
similar data for Uzbek. However, the eastern-most Turkic language, Yakut,
is not a double-marking language; it does not have a (case) marking on the
ATTR, although it does have pronominal possessive marking on the HEAD.

2. NENETS (aka YURAK). In this Tungusic language double-marking is
possible, but the option without HEAD-marking is also mentioned; it may be
a difference in dialects.

3. MORDVIN. Perhaps other Uralic languages have (or have had) the
double-marking option as well. HUNGARIAN has double-marking, but the case
suffix on the ATTR seems to be optional if the ATTR is indefinite.

4. WEST GREENLANDIC INUIT. Possibly the option holds for other forms of
Eskimo-Aleut as well.

It thus looks as if double marking is an old North-Central Asian option.
For Indo-European, the only indication of double marking I have found is
HITTITE, in which the pronominal possessive suffixes on the HEAD seem to
have been optional.

5. A further "area"  of sorts in which double marking appears is North-East
Africa. A relatively clear case is KUNAMA. In other cases, double-marking
is optional, in that the HEAD may or may not have pronominal marking; the
ATTR is always marked. Languages for which this holds are KANURI, (Hill)
NUBIAN, and -at least according to one source - also MODERN HEBREW.

6. In the Americas I have found only scattered instances of double marking,
most of which are optional. CHOCTAW is probably a case in point. Northern
Uto-Aztecan presents a fairly clear case in SERRANO. In CHEMEHUEVI, the
HEAD may or may not be pronominally marked. The same situation holds for
the Penutian language YOKUTS. It is also possible that the Yuman language
MOJAVE is an instance of double marking: in this language, heads are
obligatorily marked by pronominal affixes, and the ATTR is in the Unmarked
Case, which, among others, indicates direct objects.
   At least some dialects/variants of QUECHUA must have (or have had)
double marking: I found a case in an old reference work on Cuzco Quechua.
Imbabura Quechua does not have double marking, though.

7. For two non-Pama-Nyungan Australian languages some indication of double
marking is available. MANGARAYI has optional case marking on the ATTR and
obligatory pronominal marking on the HEAD. Conversely, NGALAKAN has
obligatory case marking on the ATTR, but optional head marking.

8. Finally, I have found optional double marking in sources for the extinct
North-West Caucasian language UBYKH: here the ATTR may or may not have an
oblique case marker. The same situation holds for the Burman language
LIMBU, where dative case marking on the ATTR is optional.

I hope this helps. Of course, I am interested in seeing this list expanded.
Oh, by the way: don't quote me! Check with the sources, please.

Just a shot in the dark: all languages listed above are at least
predominantly verb-final. Is this just coincidence, or what?

Best,

Leon Stassen.