INDEFINITENESS AND DEFINITENESS IN WAIJEWA

In a language a noun phrase may be presented with an element to show whether the noun phrase definite or indefinite. Every language has its own way to show definite and indefinite, for example using certain words or attaching affixes on the nouns. Waijewa, a minority language in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara differentiates the definite and indefinite noun phrase by attaching grammatical and morphological markers to denote definite and indefinite noun phrases. The indefinite noun phrases are ones with null markers and ones with article, while definite noun phrases are marked by the use of demonstratives, genitive case, and definite emphasizing markers. Demonstratives in Waijewa are object- distance-speaker –listener- oriented. The definiteness or indefiniteness of the nouns denoted can be anaphoric and cataphoric.