4.1.2. The position of the possessive pronoun

In Spanish Sign Language (LSE), the position of the possessive pronoun within the noun phrase can vary depending on the type of possession and, in some cases, for emphasis.

In the unmarked noun phrase, the possessor follows the possessum. The possessive therefore appears after the head of the phrase (usually a noun). This postnominal position reflects the general pattern in which nominal modifiers are postposed (Herrero Blanco, 2009, p. 152).

(1) CAR JUAN (Juan's car)

(2) BOOK OWN (My book)

In (1), the possessor JUAN follows the head CAR. Similarly, in (2), OWN is placed after the noun BOOK.

According to Rodríguez González (1992, p. 297), under the influence of Spanish, the possessive sign OWN (also glossed as OWN-PROPER) is sometimes placed before the object referent, particularly when it refers to the first person. For this reason, the glosses MINE/MY are often used. Herrero Blanco (2009) likewise notes that, under Spanish influence, some signers place the possessive before the object referent, especially when it refers to the first person.

(3) OWN SON (My son)

In (3), OWN is signed before the head SON.

When attributive possessive pronouns are used within the noun phrase, they are also articulated after the noun denoting the possessum. The unmarked sequence is therefore possessum + possessive pronoun.

(4) BOOK POS(Q)right (His/her book)

In (4), the possessive POS(Q)right follows BOOK, which is the possessum.

However, in LSE the possessor can also be placed first, as in (5), from Herrero Blanco (2009, p. 154).

(5) JUAN MOTHER (Juan's mother)

The possessor-possessum order is common in part-whole relationships, as in (6) and (7) (Herrero Blanco, 2009).

(6) UNIVERSITY RECTOR (The university's rector)

(7) SUNDAY MORNING (Sunday morning)

In (6) and (7), from Herrero Blanco (2009, pp. 202, 218), the whole (UNIVERSITY and SUNDAY) precedes the part (RECTOR and MORNING).

The possessor-possessum order is therefore the marked order in LSE. In addition to part-whole relationships, this marked order can also be used for  natural or inherent possession, as in (5) JUAN MOTHER (Juan's mother).

The marked order also occurs with bodily or psychological attributes, as in (8), from Herrero Blanco (2009, p. 158).

(8) JUAN CHARACTER (Juan's character)

Villameriel García, S. (2026). Syntax: The noun phrase: Possessive phrases: The position of the possessive pronoun. In S. Villameriel García (Ed.), Gramática de la Lengua de Signos Española (GramLSE) / Grammar of Spanish Sign Language (GramLSE). Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad-Centro de Normalización Lingüística de la Lengua de Signos Española. Retrieved Month DD, YYYY, from https://cnlse.es/es/recursos/gramlse/ingles/index/syntax/chapter-4-the-noun-phrase/4-1-possessive-phrases/4-1-2-the-position-of-the-possessive-pronoun