In Jembesa, demonstrative determiners are same as demonstrative pronouns. Demonstrative pronouns function as a noun or noun phrase; on the other hand, demonstrative determiners function as an adjective. Despite thier functions, they are not classified as adjectives due to the fact that they don’t end with adjectival suffix -o or -ö. They are classified as determiners. Moreover, a hyphen is not used between the determiner and noun.
There are three-way distinction for demonstrative determiners: proximal, medial, and distal.
Proximal Demonstrative Determiner (it)
In Jembesa, proximal demonstrative pronoun is it, and it modifies objects close to the speaker. Moreover it is equal to English determiners ‘this‘ and ‘these‘.
fumia tenta it lunan!
‘Do not listen to this guy!‘
Medial Demonstrative Determiner (ir)
In Jembesa, medial demonstrative pronoun is ir, and it modifies objects near to the addressee. Moreover, it is equal to English determiners ‘that‘ and ‘those‘.
sim heltunat kijet ir téhenta.
‘Seven people died in that accident.‘
Distal Demonstrative Determiner (je)
In Jembesa, distal demonstrative pronoun is je, and it modifies objects far from both speaker and addressee. Moreover, it is equal to English determiners ‘that‘, ‘those‘, ‘yon‘ and ‘yonder‘.
je humasta jel lanka oller to hikö-tegiedet.
‘There are some big ranches yon side of the city.‘
Jembesa 