The genitive is an adnominal case whose core function is to mark a nominal whose referent (possessor) is connected by a possessive relation to the individual expressed by the phrase within which the genitive phrase is embedded (possessum). (Lander 2008:58). Hence genitive construction is a kind of possessive construction. For example, in the standard Marathi sentence, he rəmešcə ɡʰər ahe (this ramesh-of home is; ‘This is Ramesh’s home’) the inflection [-cə] marks the possessive relation between the possessor Ramesh (proper name) and the possessum home ‘house’
1.0 Dialectal variation in marking the {Genitive 3rd person singular}Four variant forms were observed in the various regional dialects of Marathi for indicating the genitive function of 3rd person singular possessor:
(1) [-c/č-], (2) [-n-], (3) [-vowel a/i/o/Ø], (4) [-h-]. The geographical distribution and examples of the variant forms are given below. 1.1 Variant 1: [-c/č-]The variant [-c/č-] was noted in all the sampled districts in the state of Maharashtra.
1.1.1 Example (District Pune, taluka Mulshi, village Nive, M18, Maratha, 12th) एक राजा आसतो आनि त्याच़ं म्हजे राज्य आसतं ek raǰa asto ani tyacə mʰəǰe raǰyə astə ek raǰa as-t-o ani tya-c-ə mʰəǰe raǰyə as-t-ə one king.3SGM be-IPFV-3SGM and he.OBL-GEN-3SGN means kingdom.3SGN be-IPFV-3SGN There was a king and he had a kingdom. 1.2 Variant 2: [-n-]The variant [-n-] was noted in six of the 34 sampled districts in the state of Maharashtra: Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Nashik, Palghar and Raigad district. The geographical and social spread of this variant and examples are given below:
District | Taluka and Village |
---|---|
Jalgaon | Jalgaon - Dhamangaon and Wadli, Raver - Mangalwadi, Chalisgaon - Hatle and Dahiwad,Chopda - Tandalwadi and Vaijapur |
Dhule | Dhule - Laling, Songir, Khede and Khordad,Shirpur - Ambe, Shingave and Boradi, Sakri - Dighave and Dhadne |
Nandurbar | Nandurbar - Ghotane and Dhanora,Navapur - Khandbara and Chinchpada,Shahada - Prakasha and Shahada |
Nashik | Malgeaon - Kalwadi and Kaulane (GA.),Satana - Daregaon, Surgana - Kathipada |
Palghar | Dahanu - Veti (Katkari community) |
Raigad | Karjat - Salokh (Katkari), Roha - Chinchawli (Katkari),Mahad - Bheloshi (Katkari) |
The variant [-vowel a/i/o/Ø] was noted only in Palghar district (more frequently used) and Buldhana district (less frequently used) in Maharashtra. The geographical and social spread of this variant and examples are given below:
District | Taluka and Village |
---|---|
Buldhana | Shegaon - Padsul (Buddhist community) |
Palghar | Vasai - Wagholi (Samvedi Brahmin, Christian/Christian Catholic and Pachakalshi Wadwal communitites), Kalamb (Mangela/Mangela OBC communities) and Nirmal (Roman Catholic community), Mokhada - Karegaon (M Thakur) |
The variant [-h-] was recorded only in Palghar district. The geographical and social spread of this variant and examples are given below:
District | Taluka and Village |
---|---|
Palghar | Vasai - Wagholi (Samvedi Brahmin community),Nirmal (Roman Catholic community),and Kalamb (Mangela OBC community), Dahanu - Bordi (Wadwal community), Talasari - Udhwa (Warli community) |