Tatediem: Demonstrative Pronouns

Tatediem distinguishes three basic levels of demonstrative pronouns, but there is a number of further details that may be of some interest.

this: -bán-

yon: -ján-

that: -gán-

Normally, -bán- is close by, and -ján- at some distance, but this need not be the case. Some more specific usage notes are these:

When there is a number of alternatives in a small space, -gán- signifies 'the correct one(s)' – this even before which one that is has been established –, -ján- is used by the speaker who is 'leading' the exchange by asking questions, and -bán- is used by the person who is expected to provide most of the answers. Thus, the distinction between 'this' and 'yon' evaporates when members of a small group are being discussed.

In this situation, there also appear some interrogative-demonstrative pronouns,

-twán- which one(s) (out of a multitude, more than two)

-rrán- which one(s) (out of a small set)

-glán- this/that/(these) one(s)? 

These three, unlike the three normal demonstratives, take adjectival congruence rather than nominal congruence. The 'cardinality' of -rrán- varies geographically. In many conservative dialects, it exclusively is used to contrast two alternatives, but in most dialects it is a somewhat variable amount - up to five for things of roughly human size, up to dozens if talking about small, very concrete things. Intrinsic value also is relevant - if asking which out of four diamonds, -twán- is the relevant pronoun, if asking which out of three sewing threads to use, -rrán- is. Thus, -rrán- carries a slight indication of insignificance.

A common rhetorical question in situations where several alternatives exist but no one has any idea which one is the best option is etwán negán – masc(adj).which_one masc(noun).that – which one the right one?
Eglán negán is also used, signifying 'is this one the right one?' Errán negán is sometimes used to indicate that there was only one option to pick from, as a kind of unhappy remark about the lack of alternatives. (All these were here given with masculine gender marking. If the question is very general, that is the expected marking. However, if things of a particular gender are being discussed, that gender's marking usually is used, except possibly with etwán negán, which is just a rhetorical statement in general. Eglán negán is the one that most frequently appears in non-masculine forms out of these three.