There are [says Codrington] in Melanesian languages at least two [possessive nouns], one expressing closer, the other remoter relation; in many there are four. In Mota there is, with the first person singular suffix, nok, a thing belonging to me generally, gak, a thing belonging more closely to me, mak, a thing for my drinking, mok, a thing of my doing.³

In the Fijian language

the first series [of possessives] is suffixed to nouns of relationship, parts of the body and parts of things. The second series is used with things possessed or made use of. The third series is used with things destined for, or things to be eaten. The fourth series is used with things to be drunk.⁴

When yon den Steinen was collecting word stems among the Brazilian Bakairi he discovered that if, for example, he inquired about the word "tongue" the answer differed if he pointed to his own tongue, the tongue of his interlocutor, or the tongue of a third person. My tongue was ulu, thy tongue alu, his tongue ilu, everybody’s tongue kxulu.⁵

³Codrington, R.H.n/an/an/an/a, , 129.

⁴ Ray, S. H., "Melanesian Possessives, a Study in Method," Amer. Anth., N.S., 21: 349.

⁵ Steinen, K., von den, Unter den Naturvölkern Zentral-Brasiliens, 79.