Volume 9 Issue 2 (2011)
DOI:10.1349/PS1.1537-0852.A.394
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On the Expression of Spatial Relations in
Ardeşen-Laz
Silvia Kutscher
Humboldt University Berlin
This paper gives an overview of the means of expression
which are used in descriptions of spatial scenes in Laz. With motion verbs, Laz
uses the satellite-framed strategy with motion-manner conflation in the verbal
root. Path information is given in preverbal satellites. With respect to
locative expressions it belongs to the multi-verb-type languages. Hence,
considering the lexical properties of the verb roots, Laz is a rather ordinary
language. However, with respect to the semantics of its spatial case system and
the semantics of the satellites, i.e. its system of spatial preverbs, it will be
shown that Laz is typologically rather unusual.
1.
Introduction[1]
As a sister language of Georgian, spoken on the
south-eastern coast of the Black Sea, Laz is the only member of the South
Caucasian family which is spoken primarily outside of Georgia. The vast majority
of its speakers live in Turkey and are bilingual. Laz is a severely endangered
language and is used almost exclusively as a means of oral communication among
family members. While most Laz older than forty are competent speakers of the
language, an increasing number of young Laz are fluent only in Turkish, with a
rapid decline of language competence with ethnic Laz younger than twenty
(Kutscher 2008).
The data on Ardeşen-Laz presented in this article were collected
during several fieldwork stays in Turkey. The major part of the data are
elicited utterances on the basis of visual stimuli developed by the Language and
Cognition Group of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen,
namely the Topological Relations Picture Series (TRPS) and the Picture Series
for Positional Verbs (PSPV). These two stimuli are booklets with drawings and
photographs showing topological configurations and were tested with 4 fluent
speakers of Laz. These data are supplemented by spontaneous elicitations and
some overheard utterances during the fieldwork stay, excerpts of spoken
narratives collected during an earlier fieldwork trip to
Ardeşen (published as Kutscher &
Genç 1998), and elicited data from some speakers of Laz living in
Germany.
2. Some Basic Facts on
Ardeşen-Laz
Laz as is spoken in Turkey is divided into four dialectal
variants which are named after the urban centers around which the variant is
spoken. The dialects are named either after the Turkish or the Laz name of the
corresponding city (Turkish/Laz: Pazar/Atina, Ardeşen/Arťaşeni,
Fındıklı-Arhavi/Vitse-Arǩabi,
Hopa/Xopa). The dialects are all of equal sociolinguistic status since a
standard variety of Laz has not been established (cf. Kutscher 2001, chapter 1).
The variety of Laz discussed here is the one spoken in the city of Ardeşen
and the villages of the Ardeşen region. Although this dialect
(Ardeşen-Laz) is more or less similar to the other dialects with respect to
verb morphology, it differs considerably from other Laz varieties with respect
to the case marking system and argument linking rules (cf. Kutscher 2001,
chapter 5). While all other dialects of Laz have case marking relating to
syntactic relations of core arguments (ergative, nominative/absolutive, dative),
Ardeşen-Laz does not case-mark core arguments, cf. (4) below.
Laz is basically an SOV language, exhibiting the categories case and
number in nominal expressions and a rich inventory of verbal categories with up
to eight different morphological slots to be filled in the predicate, cf. table
1.
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
G
|
H
|
NEG/MOD-
|
preverb-
|
1/2person-
|
version vowel-
|
root-
|
CAUS-
|
TAM+P-
|
number
|
|
|
(A or U)
|
(voice, applicative)
|
|
|
|
|
Table 1: Template for Inflectional Categories of the Verb
in Laz
An example of an inflected verb form is given in
(1).
(1)
|
varelebuxedit
|
|
var-ele-b-u-xed-i-t
|
|
A-B-C-D-E-G-H
|
|
NEG-beside-1A-VV-sit-PAST.PFV+non-3rdA-PL
|
|
‘We did not sit beside him/her/it.’
|
As table 1 and example (1) show, the information on person
and number in Laz predicates is not marked by a single affix but rather results
from the interaction of prefixes and suffixes. The latter are portmanteau forms
coding tense/aspect/mood and person simultaneously (cf. Mattissen 1995).
Concerning the person marking in the predicate, Laz exhibits a characteristic
asymmetry. Only 1st person and 3rd person actors as well
as 1st person and 2nd person undergoers are marked on the
predicate, 2nd person actors and 3rd person undergoers are
unmarked but can be deduced paradigmatically. Disregarding this asymmetry in the
inflectional paradigm, predicates in Laz are head marking, with up to two
arguments being represented in the verbal inflection, i.e. depending on the
valence of the verb, verbal inflection is mono- or polypersonal. With
polypersonal verbs the finite verb inflects for both actor and undergoer, cf.
(2).[2]
(2)
|
ce-k-çare
|
|
PRV-2U-beat:[1>2]SG:FUT.PFV[3]
|
|
‘I will beat you!’
|
In contrast to its sister varieties, Ardeşen-Laz is an
active language (Klimov 1974), i.e. monopersonal verbs subdivide into two
classes, depending on whether the verb takes a controlling or non-controlling
single core argument (also called semantic alignment system, cf. Donohue &
Wichmann (eds.) 2008). Controlling single core arguments are marked as actor on
the predicate, cf. the first person marker
b- in (3a). Non-controlling
single core arguments are marked as undergoer, cf. the first person marker
m- in (3b). See also Kutscher (2009: 116f.) for further
discussion.
(3a)
|
b-ulur
|
|
1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go.’
|
(3b)
|
m-a-çinden
|
|
1U-VV-sneeze:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I sneeze.’
|
While most Laz dialects have argument marking
(nominative/absolutive, ergative, dative) as well as adjunct marking cases (cf.
Holisky 1991), in the dialect of Ardeşen
argument-NPs are always unmarked for case, cf. (4). This holds for the actors of
polypersonal predicates (4a, 4b), primary and secondary objects (in the sense of
Dryer 1986), cf. (4b), and for the single core argument of monopersonal active
and inactive predicates (4c).
(4a)
|
nana
|
çay
|
ǯiluy
|
|
mother
|
tea
|
pluck:[3>3]SG:PRS
|
|
‘Mother plucks tea.’
|
(4b)
|
oɣretmeni
|
bere
|
kitabi
|
me-çay
|
|
teacher
|
child
|
book
|
thither-give:[3>3]SG:PRS
|
|
‘The teacher gives the book to the child.’
|
(4c)
|
biç̆i
|
t̆raɣuduy
|
/
|
biç̆i
|
aşǩurinen
|
|
boy
|
sing:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
boy
|
VV-be.afraid:3U:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The boy sings.’
|
|
‘The boy is afraid.’
|
The case system in
Ardeşen-Laz is restricted to mark adjunct
phrases, such as instrumentals ( ‑te ‘INS’, cf. (5a)),
comitatives
(
-şǩala
‘COM’), benefactives
( -şeni
‘BEN’, cf. (5b)), goals and sources
( -şa ‘MOT). See Kutscher (2001,
chapter 5) for a detailed discussion of the case system in
Ardeşen-Laz.
(5a)
|
ǯari‑te
|
go-çxu
|
|
water‑INS
|
PRV-clean:[3>3]SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘He cleaned it with water.’ (Kutscher & Genç
1998: 184)
|
(5b)
|
oɣretmeni
|
Ali
|
bere-şeni
|
kitabi
|
me-çu-i ?
|
|
teacher
|
Ali
|
child-BEN
|
book
|
PRV-give:[3>3]SG:PAST.PFTV-QU
|
|
‘Did the teacher give Ali the book for the
child?’
|
As can be seen in (5), the core arguments of the verb
mepçam ‘give’ are all unmarked for case while in
contrast the beneficient of the giving event, the child, is marked by the
benefactive case marker -
şeni ‘BEN’. However, time and
locative adjuncts are unmarked for case as well, cf. (6).
(6)
|
livadi
|
p̆-t̆raɣudum
|
|
garden
|
1A-sing:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I sing in the garden.’
|
Hence, third arguments (e.g.
kitabi
‘book’ in (4b, 5b)) and time and locative adjuncts cannot formally
be distinguished but can only be differentiated on semantic grounds.
Expressions of spatial relations frequently have a verbal predicate
prefixed by a preverb with spatial semantics. In these cases, the ground-NP of
the spatial expression is always unmarked for case in static and in directional
expressions, cf. section 3.2. and Kutscher (2010). Since a spatial preverb has a
two-place argument structure relating to the figure and the ground of a spatial
configuration (Lehmann 1983: 147f; Craig & Hale 1988), we can thus conclude
that ground-NPs unmarked for case are core arguments of the predicate. Since
ground-NPs most commonly are non-speech-act participants, in most cases one
cannot decide whether a ground-NP is a second or third argument.
3. Basic Spatial Constructions
in Ardeşen-Laz
Basic Spatial
Constructions[4]
in
Ardeşen-Laz, i.e. the construction which is
given as discourse-pragmatically unmarked answer to the question “where is
X?” in the case of static spatial scenes and the one which is given to the
question “where to/from where is X moving/being moved?” in the case
of dynamic spatial scenes are constructed as containing three constituents: a NP
referring to the entity being located (the figure), a NP referring to the place
in which the figure is located or moved to or from (the ground) and a predicate
which forms part of a morphological complex structure containing an inflected
verb relating to the spatial orientation and shape characteristics of the figure
(the spatial verb) together with a preverb giving spatial information about the
configuration between figure and ground (the spatial relator). In the following
sections, I will give a brief overview on the spatial semantics of the verbal
root and its lexicalisation patterns (3.1) followed by some remarks on the
spatial cases found in Laz, with a focus on the Motative case, a
directional-ablative case which is only found in the Ardeşen variety of Laz
(section 3.2) and an introductory overview on the preverbs in Laz (section 3.3).
In section 4, I will then discuss the system of spatial preverbs in more detail,
with a focus on the semantics of spatial preverbs which are used in expressions
referring to topological spatial relations between figure and ground.
3.1 Lexicalisation Patterns of
Spatial Verbs in Laz
In Ardeşen-Laz, information on spatial relations is
mainly coded in the verbal complex, whereby the coding is divided among two
subparts of the verbal complex, the preverb and the verb root. The spatial
information given by the preverb focuses mainly on the axial orientation and the
shape of the ground referent, while the verb root focuses on physical features
of the figure (e.g. shape, consistency, etc.). Hence, for expressions of motion,
the verb root codes motion and manner of motion and the preverb codes the path
information, cf. (7). With respect to the typology of motion verbs introduced by
Talmy (1985, 2007), Laz thus uses the satellite-framed strategy, cf. schema in
(8).
(7)
|
feluǩa
|
maɣara
|
meşǩimçiy
|
|
feluǩa
|
maɣara
|
meşǩa-i-mçiy
|
|
boat
|
cave
|
in
-VV
-swim:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The boat floats in(to) the cave.’
|
(8)
|
schematic:
|
|
|
[relator
|
motion/manner+TAM+P]
spatial configuration
|
|
PRV-
|
verbroot+inflection
|
With respect to stance expressions, Laz is a multiverb type
language (type II of the Ameka & Levinson 2007 locative verb typology), i.e.
the positional verbs form a larger set of verbs expressing spatial dispositions
of figures with respect to specific properties of the figure referent such as
geometric properties, canonical vs. non-canonical orientation, single vs.
aggregate, etc. (cf. Kutscher & Genç 2007). For instance, the
positional verb
bɣun
denotes the configuration of a figure which is conceptualized as an aggregate of
entities, such as beans (9a), as opposed to PRV-
zun, which is used with
non-aggregate like figures which lack a canonical orientation (9b) and
PRV-
dgun which is used with non-aggregate like figures that have a
canonical vertical orientation (9c).
(9a)
|
lobca
|
masa
|
goo-bɣun
|
|
beans
|
table
|
on-aggregate:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The beans are spread on the table.’ (PSPV 25 ) |
(9b)
|
biga
|
masa
|
goo-zun
|
|
stick
|
table
|
on-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The stick is (lying) on the table.’ (PSPV 17) |
(9c)
|
tasi
|
masa
|
goo-dgun
|
|
bowl
|
table
|
on-stand:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The bowl is (standing) on the table.’
|
In sum, we can state that with respect to the lexical
properties of the verb roots, Laz is a rather ordinary language, fitting well
into the attested typological patterns of spatial verbs of stance and motion. As
the following sections will show, with respect to the semantics of its spatial
case system and the semantics of the spatial preverbs, Laz is typologically
rather unusual.
3.2 Spatial
Case(s)
Spatial expressions differ in construction with respect to
whether the spatial configurations they refer to are static or dynamic. With
static spatial expressions the ground-NP is unmarked for case while in dynamic
spatial expressions the ground may be marked with the motative case. The
following examples give the two constructional schemes together with some
language examples.
Static spatial
expressions
The construction scheme of a static spatial expression in
Ardeşen-Laz is given in (10).
(10)
|
figure
|
ground
|
[relator
|
manner+TAM+P]
spatial configuration
|
|
NP
|
NP
|
PRV-
|
verbroot+inflection
|
|
şişe
|
masa
|
goo
-
|
dgun
|
(PSPV 37)
|
|
bottle
|
table
|
on
|
stand:3A:SG:PRS
|
As is evident from the example in (10), the Laz variety
under scrutiny in this paper clearly has no morphological marking of the
ground-NP which expresses the semantic role of place whatsoever. It is neither
marked by case nor do we find adpositional marking in the phrase relating to the
ground.
In other varieties of Laz, the semantic role of place is marked with the
DAT-case affix, cf. (11) (see also Holisky 1991: 409; Lacroix 2009).
(11)
|
Vitse-Arǩabi
(Fındıklı):
|
|
A
|
msk’fa
|
bozo
|
kojiroms
|
ham
|
oxori
-s
|
|
A
|
pretty
|
girl
|
he.sees
|
this
|
house-DAT
|
|
‘He sees a pretty girl in that house.’ (Anderson 1963:
113)
|
cp.
|
Ardeșen:
|
|
ham
|
oxori
|
a
|
msǩva
|
bozomota
|
a-ziren
|
|
DEM
|
house
|
one
|
pretty
|
girl
|
VV-see:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘He sees a pretty girl in that house.’
|
Dynamic spatial
expressions
In dynamic spatial expressions in Ardeşen-Laz the
ground-NP may be marked by the so-called motative case, cf.
(12).[5]
(12)
|
figure
|
ground-case
|
[relator
|
manner+TAMP]
spatial configuration
|
|
NP
|
NP
|
PRV
|
verbroot+inflection
|
|
şişe
|
masa-şa
|
e
-
|
p̆-ç̆opum
|
|
bottle
|
table-MOT
|
up
|
1A-take:[1>3]SG:PRS
|
The term motative originates in a grammatical sketch on Laz
written by Rosen (1844) and captures the particular semantics of this case,
which only encodes that the referent of a figure nominal moves in relation to
the motative-marked ground-nominal. The meaning of the motative is vague with
respect to whether the figure is moving towards a goal, as in (13a), or moves
away from a source, as in (13b). The direction of motion is usually specified by
a spatial prefix to the predicate, e.g
amo- 'into' in (13a) or
gamo- 'out of' in (13b) or by inference from information given in the
verb root and following from properties of the figure and ground
referents.
(13a)
|
bere
|
oxori-şa
|
am-ulun
|
|
child
|
house-MOT
|
PRV-go:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The child goes inside the house.’
|
(13b)
|
bere
|
oxori-şa
|
gam-ulun
|
|
child
|
house-MOT
|
PRV-go:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The child goes out of the house.’
|
This kind of conflation of the allative with the ablative
meaning seems to be typologically rather exceptional, since it has never been
reported before and sometimes has even been ruled out as a cognitive possibility
(Andrews 1985, Ikegami 1987, Stolz 1992, Creissels 2006). Considering the fact
that motion towards a ground and motion away from a ground are spatial events
which are in opposition to each other and exclude each other semantically, the
allative-ablative conflation seems to be in conflict with a universal cognitive
principle leading to a conceptual bias for goal paths and a focus of attention
more on the endpoint than on the starting point of a motion event (e.g. Andrews
1985, Regier 1996, Regier & Zheng 2007, Lakusta & Landau 2005, Ihara
& Fujita 2000). But Kutscher (2010) argues that the semantics of the
motative fit with this cognitive principle.
In the other Laz varieties, goal and source marking is distributed among
two discrete cases. For goal-directed configurations the ground is marked by the
allative case marker
-şa/-şe (14a, 14c) whereas in source-directed configurations the source-NP is marked
by the ablative case marker -şen (14b, 14c), cf. also Holisky (1991), Lacroix (2009). As reported by Lacroix
(2009:704), in some constructions marking of the ground by the same case as used
in static location (dative) is also possible.
(14)
Vitse-Arǩabi
(Fındıklı):
(14a)
|
Ali
|
Vice-še
|
komulun
|
|
Ali
|
Vitse-to
|
comes
|
|
‘Ali comes to Vitse.’ (Anderson 1963: 111)
|
(14b)
|
Poli-šen
|
Turani
|
|
Istanbul-from
|
Turhan
|
|
‘Turhan from Istanbul.’ Anderson (1963: 110)
|
(14c)
|
oxori
|
čkimi-še
|
moxti
|
var
|
uc’umes
|
hemen
|
|
house
|
mine-to
|
come
|
not
|
he.says
|
immediately
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
iani
|
muši-šen
|
igzalas
|
|
|
|
|
side
|
his-from
|
he.goes
|
|
|
|
|
‘He (Turhan) doesn’t say, “Come to my house!”
Immediately he (Ali) goes away from him.’ (Anderson 1963: 117)
|
As is shown in (14), in other Laz dialects there are two
separate cases for goal-
(‑şa/-şe)
and source-directed (
-şen) spatial
relations, which are comparatively close in phonological form. The exceptional
case of Ardeşen-Laz might be a result of a phonetically motivated
syncretism of the two forms into one. Note that the motative case has been
reported on by Rosen in (1844). In the middle of the 19th century,
Laz was a striving language with a high amount of monolingual Laz speakers.
Hence, the development of this case and its unusual semantics cannot be related
to “the state of possible obsolescence of the language” at present
as one reviewer suggested.
3.3 Spatial Preverbs
Ardeşen-Laz
has 27 spatial preverbs which cover
both the directional/locational as well as the deictic domain.
Table 2
gives an overview of these preverbs. Note that two preverbs (
mola-
‘in; hither.along’,
gola- ‘on, thither.along’)
are listed twice, i.e. in both columns of the table, since in dynamic spatial
expressions, they have two distinct readings, depending on the verb semantics
(deictic with verbs of motion, topological with verbs of caused motion).
Table 2: System of Spatial Preverbs in
Ardeşen-Laz
Most of the spatial preverbs exhibit certain
morpho-phonological processes. In most cases, the final vowel changes
systematically in interplay with the presence and absence of personal prefixes
and the preroot vowel which serves several voice and applicative functions
(version vowel, cf. Boeder 1968, Kutscher 2001, chapter 1; Kutscher 2009,
chapter 6). Preverbal allomorphs may e.g. alternate between final vowel /a/ and
/e/ or between final vowel /o/ and /a/ or between vowel and zero. The preverb
me- alternates between /me/ and /n/. The morpho-phonological rules are
complex, depending on the presence of personal prefix and the quality of the
version vowel. Furthermore the rules differ with respect to the syllabicity of
the preverb. Since the morpho-phonological details are not of relevance for the
subject of this paper, I did not include them in the discussion.
Apart from this rather large set of spatial preverbs, Ardeşen-Laz
has a small set of preverbs that serve mainly information structure functions,
i.e. the preverbs
do-, ko-, mende- have speaker modality functions
comparable to so-called focus particles (cf. also Mattissen 2001, Lacroix 2009).
Most of the preverbs used in descriptions of spatial scenes are not
restricted to either dynamic or static spatial relations but rather are neutral
in this respect, i.e. can be used in both kinds of expressions (15a, 15b).
(15a)
|
zeytini
|
yaɣi
|
dolo-b-u-bi
|
|
olive
|
oil
|
PRV-1A-VV-pour:[1>3]SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘I poured olive oil into (the cow’s mouth).’
(Kutscher & Genç 1998:34)
|
(15b)
|
şişe
|
t̆iǩina
|
dolo-zun
|
|
bottle
|
pannier
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The bottle is in the basket (lit.: pannier).’ (PSPV 22) |
A minority of preverbs, however, are restricted to
expressions of dynamic spatial scenes. These are:
ama-
‘into’,
gama- ‘out.of’,
meo-
‘thither.across’,
moo- ‘hither.across’,
moǩo-
‘hither.asunder’,
e-
‘up’,
eşǩa-
‘up.amidst’
,
ceşǩa-
‘down.amidst’.
In sum, all spatial preverbs in Laz allow for use in descriptions of
dynamic spatial scenes, and the majority of the preverbs can be used in
descriptions of static spatial scenes as well. The set and function of both
kinds of preverbs so far seem to be congruent to other Laz dialects (cf. Holisky
1991, Lacroix 2009).
Section 4 will focus on describing the semantics of the preverbs that
can be used to denote topological spatial configurations. This subpart of the
preverb system in Laz is complex with respect to its semantic structuring and
from the point of view of semantic typology it is rather unusual as will become
clear from the following discussion.
4. The Use of Laz Preverbs in
Descriptions of Topological Spatial Scenes
In order to analyze the inventory and semantics of the
preverbs which are used to express topological spatial configurations, the
visual stimuli developed by the Language and Cognition Group of the Max Planck
Institute Nijmegen were used, namely the Topological Relations Picture Series
(TRPS) and the Picture Series for Positional Verbs (PSPV). These have been
complemented by other stimuli when necessary. The stimuli show two or more
entities in spatial relation to one another which geometrically speaking are
configurations of inclusion, surface contact and circumvention and which
functionally are containment and support relations. As a result of these
elicitations, we find that 11 different preverbs are used in Laz for describing
these spatial scenes. For a first step in analysis, in the following the
preverbs are ordered into two types of spatial domains, the IN-domain (cf.
section 4.1) where the figure-referent is fully or partly contained in the
ground-referent and the ON-domain, where the figure-referent is in a surface
contact relation to the ground-referent (cf. section 4.2). This includes
circumventional relations, where the figure-referent extends in a circular
relation around the surface of the ground-referent (cf. section 4.4). For an
overview of the preverbs to be discussed cf. table 3.
IN-configurations:
|
ce-, dolo-,
meşǩa-,
mola-
|
ON-configurations:
|
|
|
PLANAR
|
cela-, goo-, gola-, eo-, me-
|
|
CIRCUMVENT
|
go-, mo-
|
Table 3: Subsystem of Laz Preverbs Used in Descriptions of
Topological Spatial Scenes
As will become clear in the following analysis of the use of
these 11 preverbs, the ordering according to geometrically defined parameters as
presented in table 3 does not fully reflect the categorization principles
which underlie the Laz system of spatial preverbs. It will become clear in the
discussion of the data that conceptual parameters of a different quality have to
be taken into account.
4.1
IN-Relations
When comparing the differences in use between
ce-, dolo-,
meşǩa-
and
mola-, one finds that the shape properties of the ground referent are
relevant factors for the choice of the preverb.
Dolo- is used to refer to
topological spatial configurations in which the ground has an opening that is
smaller than the vertical extension of the ground-referent, i.e. in which the
ground referent resembles a (vertically oriented) cylinder. This kind of shape
can be found e.g. with panniers, which are the prototypical baskets in the Laz
culture (16a). But also bottle necks have this kind of shape (16b). Both
configurations can only be referred to by the preverb
dolo‑.
(16a)
|
şişe
|
t̆iǩina
|
dolo-zun
|
|
bottle
|
pannier
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The bottle is in the pannier.’ (PSPV 22) |
(16b)
|
mantari
|
şişe
|
dolv-o-nʒoy
|
|
cork
|
bottle
|
PRV-VV-be.stuck:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The cork is stuck in the bottle.’ (TRPS 62) |
In contrast, containers that have a broad opening and a flat
vertical extension like bowls (17a) or beds (17b) trigger the use of the preverb
ce-.
(17a)
|
oşǩuri
|
tasi
|
ce-zun
|
|
apple
|
bowl
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The apple is in the bowl.’ (TRPS 2) |
(17b)
|
bere
|
yataɣi
|
ce-zun
|
|
child
|
bed
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The child is in the bed.’
|
The preverb
me
şǩa-
is used in cases where the ground referent is a rather narrow container with
respect to the figure, like a hole in a tree (18a), or if the ground-referent is
dense or filled with some material, e.g. a haystack (18b).
(18a)
|
ǩinçi
|
mca
|
meşǩa-xen
|
|
bird
|
tree
|
PRV-sit:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The bird is in the (hollow) tree (trunk).’ (TRPS 67) |
(18b)
|
d-i-mpulu,
|
nçala bardi
|
meşǩa-xedu,
|
|
MOD-VV-hide:3A:SG:PAST.PFV
|
hay.stack
|
PRV-sit:3A:SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
|
|
|
va-gam-ulun
|
|
|
NEG-PRV-go:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
|
‘(The man) hid, he sat in the hay stack, he did not come out of
it.’ (Kutscher & Genç 1998: 155)
|
In order to fully understand the semantics of the preverbs,
we furthermore have to observe the usage of the preverbs in descriptions of
dynamic spatial scenes. For all of the preverbs used in descriptions of
IN-configurations (and in fact for all preverbs used in descriptions of spatial
scenes), the orientation of the motion path of the figure according to the
vertical and horizontal axes is relevant (axial orientation). Let us first have
a look at the use of the respective preverbs in descriptions of dynamic spatial
scenes.
Use of
meşǩa-,
mola-, dolo-
and
ce- in descriptions of dynamic spatial
scenes
For the use of the preverb the horizontal axis of the motion
path of the figure is relevant. The preverbs
meşǩa-,
ceşǩa-
and
eşǩa-
form a semantic and morphological subset of spatial preverbs. All three refer to
spatial scenes with dense grounds differing only with respect to the axial
orientation of the motion.[6]
While
meşǩa-
refers to a horizontal motion (19c),
ceşǩa-
(19a) and
eşǩa-
(19b) refer to motion along the vertical axis.
(19a)
|
ceşǩe-b-ulur
|
|
PRV-1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go down (e.g. in a mountain forest, through the
brushwood)’
|
(19b)
|
eşǩe-b-ulur
|
|
PRV-1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go up (e.g in a mountain forest, through the
brushwood)’
|
(19c)
|
meşǩe-b-ulur
|
|
PRV-1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go horizontally (e.g. in a forest, through the
brushwood)’
|
The preverb
mola- is used for dynamic spatial scenes
in which the figure moves or is moved into a ground horizontally. It does not
include any further specific information about the properties of the ground
referent in contrast to
meşǩa
-
([dense, narrow], cf. 19c).
The
preverb
mola- contrasts with the preverb
dolo- with respect to the
axial orientation of the motion path of the figure. This difference in meaning
is illustrated with the data in (20). For pouring a liquid into a container
which is oriented vertically, such as the neck of a cow which is lying on the
earth (or a pannier, cf. (16a) above) the preverb
dolo- is used (20a).
For pouring liquid in the mouth of a person standing, i.e. where the liquid is
poured horizontally, the preverb
mola- is used, cf. (20b).
(20a)
|
zeytini
|
yaɣi
|
dolo-b-u-bi
|
|
olive
|
oil
|
PRV-1A-VV-pour:[1>3]SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘I poured olive oil into (the cow’s mouth).’ [the cow
is lying on the ground] (Kutscher & Genç 1998:34)
|
(20b)
|
p̆ici
|
ǯari
|
molo-b-i-bi
|
|
mouth
|
water
|
PRV-1A-VV-pour:SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘I put water in my mouth.’ [in order to spray it on
swarming bees] (Kutscher & Genç 1998:40)
|
The fact that horizontal orientation of the figure’s
path is relevant for the choice of
mola- can also be illustrated by the
use of the preverb
mola- with verbs of motion. In this case, the preverb
expresses that the figure (i.e. the agent of the motion event) moves on a
horizontal path towards the deictic center, cf. (21). The plantation called
Merze is on the same height in the mountains as the home of the narrator of the
story of which the introductory line is given in the example in (21).
(21)
|
şimdi
|
andɣa
|
Merze‑şa
|
ko‑mola-ftitu
|
|
well
|
one.day
|
Merze‑MOT
|
MOD‑PRV-1A:go:PL:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘Well, one day we came home from Merze.’ (Kutscher &
Genç 1998: 149)
|
Use of
meşǩa-,
mola-, dolo-
and
ce- in descriptions of static spatial
scenes
As alluded to above, the parameter of axial orientation is
even relevant when the preverbs in question are used in descriptions of static
spatial scenes. The choice of the preverb depends on the axial orientation of
the path on which the figure is thought to move in order to become located in
the stasis configuration which is described by the expression in question.
Hence, in descriptions of static spatial scenes the preverb refers to the path
which was covered by the figure on its way to the ground. Thus, the static
spatial configuration is inferred by the hearer rather than expressed by the
preverb. I will illustrate this conclusion by opposing the preverbs
mola-,
dolo- and
ce- in the following paragraphs.
The preverb
ce- is used for topological configurations in which
the figure has been placed into the container by way of a vertical motion, e.g.
in cases where the opening of the container is on the upper region of the
ground-referent. For instance, an apple is placed into a bowl from above,
therefore the preverb
ce- is used for describing the topological
configuration described in (17) above, while a cup is placed into a cupboard
with moving it along a horizontal path. Therefore, the preverb
mola- is
chosen for describing the topological configuration in (22), while the preverb
ce- cannot be used.
(22)
|
fincani
|
dolabi
|
mola-dgun
|
|
*ce-
|
|
cup
|
cupboard
|
PRV-stand:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
|
|
‘The cup is in the cupboard.’
|
Furthermore, for the use of the preverb
ce- the
opening of the container need not necessarily be on the upper side of the ground
referent, but may also be at the side of the ground referent, like a door on a
car, as the following example (23) illustrates. For this kind of configuration,
the preverb
mola- cannot be used.
(23)
|
oxorza
|
araba
|
ce-xen
|
|
*mola-
|
|
woman
|
car
|
PRV-sit:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
|
|
‘The woman sits in the car.’
|
The difference between the configuration in (22) and (23)
lies in the axial orientation of the path along which the figure moves or is
moved to reach its final location. Whereas entities that move into or are being
moved into a cupboard or a house cover a more or less horizontal path, a person
which sits down in a car moves along a vertical axis (i.e. from standing to
sitting). This finding supports the conclusion that the path which is covered by
the figure is the relevant factor and not some shape property of the
ground-referent.
The data in (21) above also illustrate that the use of the preverb
mola- is not restricted to configurations which geometrically are
configurations of partial or complete inclusion. For the use of the preverb the
parameter of axial orientation of the motion path of the figure is relevant and
not whether or not the figure is included in the ground. This holds also for the
preverb
dolo-, cf. (24).
(24)
|
dunya
|
usti başi
|
şǩimi
|
mca
|
do-b-i-i
|
|
all
|
clothes
|
1SG:POSS
|
milk
|
MOD-1A-VV-become:SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
|
|
|
haşo
|
dolo-m-a-oru
|
|
like.this
|
PRV-1U-VV-flow:3A:SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘My clothes were covered in milk. It ran all down me.’
(Kutscher & Genç 1998: 127f.)
|
Likewise, the preverb
ce- is not only used in
descriptions of containment configurations, but is also used in descriptions of
topological spatial scenes where the figure is in contact to the surface of the
ground-referent, cf. (25).
(25a)
|
masa
|
hali
|
ce-dgun
|
|
table
|
carpet
|
PRV-stand:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The table is on the carpet.’
|
(25b)
|
şeyi
|
masa
|
ce-zun
|
|
cloth
|
table
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The piece of cloth is on the table.’ (PSPV 4) |
Furthermore, topological spatial configurations which are
related to a horizontally oriented surface can be referred to by the use of the
preverb
goo-. As (26) below illustrates, the preverb
goo- is used
in configurations of a figure which is in contact with a part of the surface of
a ground-referent. In descriptions of spatial scenes in which the surface region
of a ground referent is above ground-level, e.g. the surface of a table, the use
of the preverb
ce- exhibits some overlap with the use of the preverb
goo-. For descriptions of this kind of configurations, I found that
speakers did not uniquely choose the preverb
ce-, but 2 out of 4 speakers
preferred
goo- for describing the configuration of a piece of table cloth
lying on a table, cf. (26).
(26)
|
şeyi
|
masa
|
goo-zun
|
|
cloth
|
table
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The cloth is on the table.’
|
(PSPV 4)
|
In order to better understand the meaning and use of the
preverb
ce-, one has to take into consideration the fact that the preverb
ce- is used for the description of vertically oriented dynamic spatial
scenes. In cases where the figure-referent moves steeply downwards, e.g. a
person on a ladder as in (27), the vertical downward motion of the figure is
expressed by the preverb
ce-.
(27)
|
mskala
|
me-m-i-du
|
ce-fti
|
|
ladder
|
PRV-1U-VV-put:[3>1]SG:PRS
|
PRV-1A:go: SG:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘She put the ladder (on the wall) for me (and) I went
down.’ (Kutscher & Genç 1998: 83)
|
We can thus conclude that the relevant parameter for the use
of the preverb
ce- in descriptions of topological spatial scenes is not
the geometrical-functional parameter of inclusion/containment, but the parameter
of axial orientation of the configuration with respect to the path the figure
covered by being placed in relation to the ground. The spatial scenes for which
the preverb
ce- can be used to describe these configurations share the
fact that the figure moves or is moved along a vertically oriented path in order
to achieve its final static position. Whether the figure is in a containment or
surface relation then follows from inferences based on world-knowledge.
Figure 1 summarizes the types of spatial configurations for which the
preverb
ce- is used and illustrates that the preverb
ce- comprises
ON, IN as well as DOWNWARD geometrical configurations.
Figure 1: Semantic Extension of the Preverb
ce-
4.2
ON-Relations
When comparing the differences in use between
goo-,
gola-, cela-
and
me-, we find that for these preverbs the same two
parameters, shape properties of the ground and axial orientation of the
figure’s path, are decisive factors for the choice of the preverb. As
illustrated in (28a) and (26) above, the preverb
goo- is used in
configurations of a figure which is in contact with a part of the surface of a
ground-referent. Additionally, as the comparison with the use of the preverb
me- in (28b) shows, the surface of the ground is horizontally oriented,
whereas for vertical (28b), (28c) and non-oriented configurations (28d) the
preverb
me- is chosen.
(28a)
|
fincani
|
masa
|
goo-dgun
|
|
cup
|
table
|
PRV-stand:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The cup is on the table.’ (TRPS 1) |
(28b)
|
mskala
|
ǩoda
|
me-zun
|
|
ladder
|
wall
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The ladder is leaning on the wall.’ (lying along a wall:
ela-zun)
(TRPS 58) |
(28c)
|
bant̆i
|
ǩuçxe
|
me-ç̆abun
|
|
band.aid
|
leg
|
PRV-stick.to:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The band aid is on the leg.’ (TRPS 35) |
(28d)
|
pekmezi
|
xami
|
n-u-sun
|
|
jam
|
knife
|
PRV-VV-be.smeared:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The jam is smeared on the knife.’ (TRPS 12) |
We also find that shape properties of the ground are
relevant for the choice of preverbs in expressions of topological surface
configurations. Like the preverb
goo-, the preverb
gola- is
restricted to configurations in which the contact region of the ground is
horizontally oriented. Additionally, however, the region of the ground-referent
with which the figure is in contact has a prominent 1-dimensional extension,
such as a shelf, cf. (29).
(29)
|
çitabi
|
oǯude
|
gola-zun
|
|
book
|
shelf
|
PRV-lie/stand:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The book is on the shelf.’ (TRPS 8) |
For configurations where the prominent 1-dimensional
extension of the spatial region is oriented vertically, the preverb
cela-
is used, cf. (30).
(30a)
|
rezimi
|
ǩoda
|
cela-bun
|
|
picture
|
wall
|
PRV-hang:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The picture is on the wall.’ (TRPS 44) |
(30b)
|
patto
|
aski
|
cela-bun
|
|
jacket
|
hook
|
down-hang:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The jacket is attached (lit.: hangs down from) to the
hook.’
(TRPS 9) |
Besides describing certain topological scenes, the preverb
is also chosen in descriptions of dynamic spatial scenes. In these cases it is
used to describe downward motions on 1-dimensional ground-regions such as paths
or roads in the mountains, cf. (31).
(31)
|
cele-b-ulur
|
|
PRV-1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go down a road/path (e.g. in the mountains)’
|
For upward motions on paths and roads, the preverb
ela- is used, cf. (32a), while a horizontal motion is referred to by the
preverb
gola- (32b).
(32a)
|
ele-b-ulur
|
|
PRV-1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go up a road/path (e.g. in the mountains)’
|
(32b)
|
golo-b-ulur
|
|
PRV-1A-go:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I go along a horizontally oriented road or path’
|
Unlike the preverb
mola- mentioned above in (21), the
preverb
gola- does not have a deictic component. The horizontal motion in
(32b) is not related to a deictic center, whereas the motion in (21) above is
directed towards the deictic center.
A problematic case for the analysis of the use of the preverb
cela- is the one presented in (33).
(33)
|
balǩoni
|
cela-p-xer
|
|
balcony
|
PRV-1A-sit:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I sit on the balcony.’ (Kutscher & Genç 1998:
28)
|
This case seems problematic because the surface region of
the ground-referent is oriented horizontally and thus one might expect that
speakers choose the preverb
goo-.
In my data, there is also one speaker who chooses
cela- instead
of
goo- to describe a scene in which a stick is lying on a table. The
spatial scene in question shows a stick lying at the edge of the table, aligned
to its rim, cf. (34).
(34)
|
biga
|
masa
|
cela-zun
|
|
stick
|
table
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The stick is lying on the table (aligned with the rim of the
table).’
|
What configurations like (33) and (34) have in common is
that the spatial region relevant for the conceptualisation of the topological
configuration is an edge, i.e. a 1-dimensional region at the rim of the upper
region of the ground-referent. Maybe the choice of the preverb
cela- is
caused by the fact that
cela- – when used in descriptions of
dynamic spatial scenes – is restricted to downward motions along a path or
road, cf. (31). In order to gain a better insight in the meaning and range of
use for
cela- more data have to be collected in future research.
In sum, we can conclude that the feature of 1-dimensionality of the
spatial region of the ground is relevant for the use of the preverbs
gola- and
cela- as well as its orientation with respect to the
vertical or horizontal axis.[7]
In my data, there is one more preverb which is used in descriptions of
topological spatial scenes, the preverb
eo-. The analysis for the range
and meaning of use of this preverb is, however, at the moment rather preliminary
and needs further investigation. For the moment, it can be stated that the
preverb
eo- is chosen in cases where the ground conceptually consists of
more than one object, i.e. when something is placed on top of a stack as in
(35a). For some speakers it is also possible to choose the preverb for
configurations of multiple entities being placed on a horizontal surface (35b)
or when the figure itself forms a stack as the folded cloth in (35c). Since some
speakers find the use of
goo- acceptable for (35b) and (35c) there seems
to be a semantic overlap between the preverbs
eo- and
goo-.
(35a)
|
yufka
|
eo-b-o-dum
|
|
puff.pastry
|
PRV-1A-VV-put:[1>3]SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put layers of puff pastry one upon the other.’
|
(35b)
|
t̆ope-pe
|
masa
|
eo-zunan
|
|
|
ball-PL
|
table
|
PRV-lie:3A:PL:PRS
|
|
|
‘The balls are (lit.: are lying) on the table.’
|
(PSPV 8)
|
(35c)
|
masa-şi
|
cindo
|
oǩo-ǩot̆-eri
|
eo-zun
|
|
|
table-GEN
|
surface
|
PRV-fold-PTCP
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
|
‘It is lying on the top of the table folded.’
|
(PSPV 14)
|
From the findings so far it seems reasonable to conclude
that for descriptions of topological spatial scenes with respect to the surface
of a ground, i.e. ON-relations, the meanings of Laz preverbs are based on the
parameters [surface contact] and [axial orientation of the surface of the
ground]. As (36) shows, however, the use of the preverb
goo- is not
restricted to descriptions of configurations in which the figure is in contact
with a horizontally oriented surface, but is used also in non-contact relations,
e.g. a branch expanding above the roof of a house or a cloud above a mountain,
cf. (36).
(36)
|
mp̆ula
|
daɣi
|
goo-xen
|
|
cloud
|
mountain
|
PRV-sit:3A:PRS
|
|
‘The cloud is above the mountain.’ (TRPS 36) |
For non-contact relations in which the figure is oriented
vertically above the ground, however, the preverb
ǩoǯo-
has to be used, cf. (37).
(37)
|
lampa
|
masa
|
ǩoǯa-bun
|
|
lamp
|
table
|
PRV-hang:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The lamp is hanging over the table.’ (TRPS 13) |
Thus, we can conclude that for descriptions of non-contact
spatial scenes, the axial orientation of the configuration is decisive as well.
In order to understand the conceptual system of Laz preverbs we thus have to
determine the parameters according to which spatial scenes are conceptualized.
As has been illustrated in (36) and (37), for the preverb
goo- it is not
decisive whether the figure is in contact with an upper surface but rather,
whether the figure is oriented horizontally with respect to the ground. Most of
the preverbs presented above are used in descriptions of spatial relations in
which the figure is in contact with the ground. But this might as well be a
consequence of physical affordances related to gravity. Furthermore it has been
argued that with respect to descriptions of relations which from a geometrical
perspective are relations of inclusion, for Laz preverbs the axial orientation
of the path of the figure is more relevant than whether the figure is in a
geometrical-functional relation of inclusion. As it appears, for Laz the axial
orientation of the path of the figure is a more prominent conceptual parameter
than topological-functional ones such as [surface contact/surface support] and
[inclusion/containment].
Hence, to summarize the findings for descriptions of topological
configurations so far, we find that firstly, the shape property of the ground
referent is a relevant parameter according to which the preverbs are chosen for
descriptions of static spatial scenes. This parameter can have one of the four
values listed in the following table. Exemplary preverbs are listed in the right
column:
i)
|
ground is 1-dimensional:
|
gola-, cela-
|
ii)
|
ground is cylindrical:
|
dolo
-
|
iii)
|
ground is dense, narrow:
|
meşǩa-
|
iv)
|
ground forms a heap:
|
eo-
|
Table 4: The Parameter [shape property of the
ground-referent]
Secondly, the axial orientation of the path of the figure,
i.e. the path which the figure covers before it achieves its location, is
relevant for the choice of a preverb. The parameter of axial orientation can
have one of three values. Exemplary preverbs are listed in the right
column:
i)
|
vertical orientation:
|
ce-, dolo-, cela-,
eo-
|
ii)
|
horizontal orientation:
|
goo-, gola-, mola-,
meşǩa-
|
iii)
|
neutral:
|
me-, mo-
|
Table 5: The Parameter [axial orientation of the motion
path of the figure-referent]
Thirdly, the parameter deictic perspective is relevant, cf.
also section 4.4 below. It can have one of two values listed in the following
table. Exemplary preverbs are listed in the right column:
i)
|
towards deictic center:
|
mo-, mola-
|
ii)
|
away from deictic center:
|
me-
|
Table 6: The Parameter [deictic
perspective]
4.3 Source
Constructions
The fact that the axial orientation of the configuration is
a decisive parameter for the use of the preverbs in Laz is also supported by
data elicited for dynamic spatial configurations in which the figure-referent is
moving away from the ground-referent (source constructions). While for stance
and goal constructions Laz has the above described complex system of preverbs,
for source constructions the number of preverbs is much smaller and the choice
of the preverb in these cases is only determined by the parameter of axial
orientation and is neither determined by the geometrical-functional concepts
inclusion and surface nor by the parameter of
shape.[8]
The data presented in (38)
– (41) give some illustrative examples.
(38)
gama- 'out
of, away from (Ground is horizontal (38) or neutral (39))':
(38a)
|
porça
|
dolabi
|
mola-b-dum
|
→
|
dolabi-şa
|
gamo-b-i-ɣam
|
|
dress
|
wardrobe
|
in-1A-put:SG:PRS
|
|
wardrobe-MOT
|
out-1A-VV-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the dress into the wardrobe.’
|
|
‘I take it out of the wardrobe.’
|
(38b)
|
cari
|
soba
|
meşǩa-b-dum
|
→
|
soba-şa
|
gamo-b-i-ɣam
|
|
bread
|
oven
|
in-1A-put:SG:PRS
|
|
oven-MOT
|
out-1A-VV-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the bread into the oven.’
|
|
‘I take it out of the oven.’
|
(39)
|
çitabi
|
ǩapaɣi
|
mo-b-dum
|
→
|
ǩapaɣi-şa
|
gamo-b-i-ɣam
|
|
book
|
slip.case
|
into-1A-put:SG:PRS
|
|
slip.case-MOT
|
out-1A-VV-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the book into the slip case.’
|
|
‘I take it out of the slip case.’
|
(40)
e- 'out of,
away from (Ground is below)':
(40a)
|
oşǩuri
|
tasi
|
ce-b-dum
|
→
|
tasi-şa
|
e-p̆-ç̆opum
|
|
apple
|
bowl
|
in-1A-put:SG:PRS
|
|
bowl-MOT
|
up-1A-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the apple into the bowl.’
|
|
‘I take it out of the bowl.’
|
(40b)
|
ǩuzi
|
bardaɣi
|
dolo-b-dum
|
→
|
bardaɣi-şa
|
e-p̆-ç̆opum
|
|
spoon
|
glass
|
in-1A-put:SG:PRS
|
|
glass-MOT
|
up-1A-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the spoon into the glass.’
|
|
‘I take it out of the glass.’
|
|
|
|
|
*gamo-b-iɣam |
|
(40c)
|
çitabi
|
ti
|
goo-b-dum
|
→
|
ti-şa
|
e-p̆-ç̆opum
|
|
book
|
head
|
on-1A-put:SG:PRS
|
|
head-MOT
|
up-1A-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the book on the head.’
|
|
‘I take it from the head.’
|
(41)
ce- '(out
of), away from (Ground is above)':
(41a)
|
çanta
|
dolabi
|
goo-b-dum
|
→
|
dolabi-şa
|
ce-b-i-ɣam
|
|
bag
|
wardrobe
|
on-1A-put:PRS
|
|
wardrobe-MOT
|
down-1A-VV-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the bag on top of the wardrobe.’
|
|
‘I take it down from the wardrobe.’
|
cp:
(41b)
|
çanta
|
hali/masa
|
goo-b-dum
|
→
|
hali-şa/masa-şa
|
e-p̆-ç̆opum
|
|
bag
|
rug/table
|
on-1A-put:PRS
|
|
rug/table-MOT
|
up-1A-take:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I put the bag on the rug/table.’
|
|
‘I take it from the rug/table.’
|
In sum, for the description of goal-directed spatial
relations we find that the figure’s motion path away from the ground is
decisive for the choice of the preverb. In cases where the starting location of
the figure is above the torso height of the agent, like the top of a wardrobe,
the preverb
ce- ‘down’ is chosen, relating to the fact that
the figure’s path is a downward motion. In cases where the path of the
figure-referent follows an upward motion with respect to the torso of the agent,
e.g. when lifting something from a pannier or a table, the preverb
e-
‘up’ is used. In all other cases, i.e. where the motion path of the
figure is horizontal or not further specified, the preverb
gama-‘out’ is selected.
Figure 2: Subsystem of Preverbs Expressing Source
Relations
4.4 Deixis
For one preverb used in descriptions of topological
configurations, the preverb
mo-, we find that the decisive feature is
neither based on the axial orientation nor on the shape properties of the
ground. In most cases, the use of the preverb
mo- in descriptions of
topological spatial scenes comprises scenes which from a geometrical perspective
are circumvential configurations, i.e. configurations in which the figure is in
contact with the surface region of the ground-referent in a circular fashion,
e.g. a ring on a finger (42a), a shoe on a foot (42b), a slipcase around a book
(42c).
(42a)
|
maç̆indri
|
ǩit̆i
|
mo-zun
|
|
ring
|
finger
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The ring is on the finger.’ (TRPS 10) |
(42b)
|
ǩuçxe modvala
|
ǩuçxe
|
mo-zun
|
|
shoe
|
foot
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The shoe is on the foot.’ (TRPS 21) |
(42c)
|
kitabi
|
ǩapaɣi
|
mo-zun
|
|
book
|
slip.case
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The book is in the slip case.’
|
On scrutiny, the data reveal that it is not the geometrical
parameter of circumventionality that is decisive for the use of the preverb
mo-, but rather whether the figure is conceptualised as being a
functional part of the ground or as canonically belonging to the ground. This
can be shown by two observations. The first is that Laz has another preverb
which is used in descriptions of circumventional configurations, the preverb
go-. This preverb can be used in static, cf. (43a), as well as dynamic
spatial configurations in which a figure circumvents a ground-referent, cf.
(43b). It can also be used for undirected motion within a region (43c). For all
of these situations, the preverb
mo- cannot be used.
(43a)
|
t̆oç̆i
|
çoki
|
gv-o-ǩorun
|
|
rope
|
root
|
PRV-VV-be.wound:[3>3]SG:PRS
|
|
‘The rope is wound around the root.’ (TRPS 55) |
(43b)
|
mǯu
|
ko‑gv-a-ǩorey
|
|
cherrylaurel.tree
|
MOD‑PRV-VV-wind:[3>3]PL:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘(The swarming bees) surrounded the cherry laurel tree.’
(Kutscher & Genç 1998:51)
|
(43c)
|
g-u-ǩap̆aman
|
mutu
|
var-a-xenenan
|
|
PRV-VV-walk:3A:PL:PRS
|
something
|
NEG-VV-do[POT]:3U:PL:PRS
|
|
‘(She choked,) they walk around everywhere, but nobody can do
anything.’ (Kutscher & Genç 1998: 41)
|
The second finding is that the preverb
mo- is used in
certain spatial configurations which geometrically are surface contact
configurations, e.g. a lid on a pot (44).
(44)
|
ǩapaɣi
|
tencere
|
mo-zun
|
|
lid
|
pot
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The lid is on the pot.’ (in case of lid belonging to
pot)
|
If the preverb
mo- is replaced with the preverb
goo- (normally used for descriptions of support from
below/superposition-configurations, cf. (27) above), the reading of the
expression changes, cf. (45).
(45)
|
ǩapaɣi
|
tencere
|
goo-zun
|
|
lid
|
pot
|
PRV-lie:3A:SG:PRS
|
|
‘The lid is on the pot.’ (in case of lid too big for
pot)
|
Whereas the use of the preverb
mo- in (44) expresses
that the lid on the pot is the one which fits the pot, the use of the preverb
goo- expresses that the lid does not fit the pot. Language consultants
give the additional information that they have the feeling that
mo- means
that the lid “belongs” to the pot. Figure 3 gives an illustrative
overview on the range of uses for the preverb
mo- when used in
descriptions of static spatial configurations.
Figure 3: The Use of the Preverb
mo- in
Descriptions of Static Spatial Scenes
In order to understand the meaning and use of the preverb
mo- in descriptions of static topological configurations, one has to take
into consideration that with verbs of motion the preverb
mo- has a
deictic function, i.e. it marks that the figure moves towards the deictic
center, cf. (46a). For motion away from the deictic center, the preverb
me- is used (46b).
(46a)
|
var-idu
|
ama
|
askere‑pe
|
ko‑mo-xtey
|
|
NEG-leave:3A:SG:PAST.PFV
|
but
|
soldier‑PL
|
MOD-PRV‑go:3A:PL:PAST.PFV
|
|
‘He didn't leave but the soldiers came (to his house).’
(Kutscher & Genç 1998: 224)
|
(46b)
|
me-xti
|
ya
|
k‑o-ǯedi
|
ya
|
|
PRV-go:2A:SG:IMPER
|
QUOT
|
MOD‑VV-see:[2>3]SG:IMPER
|
QUOT
|
|
‘“(There is something on the top of the mountain.) Go there
and look at what it is!”’ (Kutscher & Genç 1998:
24f.)
|
The deictic use of the preverbs is not restricted to motion
verbs but for instance can be found in verbs of manipulation, e.g. the opening
and closing of a drawer (47). Here the use of the preverb
mo- refers to
the fact that the drawer moves in direction of the agent (the prototypical
deictic center), cf. (47b), and the preverb
me- refers to the fact that
the drawer moves away from the agent, cf. (47a).
(47)
me-/mo-
'out of, away from (deictic)':
(47a)
|
surme
|
me-b-o-mşaram
|
→
|
(47b)
|
surme
|
mo-b-i-zdam
|
|
drawer
|
thither-1A-VV-push:SG:PRS
|
|
|
drawer
|
hither-1A-VV-draw:SG:PRS
|
|
‘I close the drawer
(lit.: push it away from me).’ |
|
|
‘I open the drawer
(lit.: draw it towards me).’ |
In conclusion, the use of the preverb
mo- in the
description of static spatial scenes is best explained by recurring to the
deictic semantics of this preverb. Like the preverbs in section 4.1 and 4.2, the
preverb
mo- refers to the path which the figure covers on its way to the
final location, but in contrast to the spatial preverbs, it codes the
perspective of the motion path rather than its spatial-directional properties.
The deictic center in these spatial configurations is the ground-referent (e.g.
the finger in (42a) or the pot in (44)). One of the reviewers pointed out a
possible correspondence of the preverb
mo- to a Tzeltal positional
meaning ‘tight fit’. Since Laz has a verb
PRV-
nǯoy
‘tight fit’ which can be combined with every spatial preverb which
is semantically adequate (cf. Kutscher/Genç 2007), while
mo-
definitely has a spatial-orientational meaning component, the analysis suggested
in this paper will be maintained.
5. Typological Remarks: Laz Is
Not an IN-ON Language
The linguistic expression and conceptualisation of spatial
relations has been a widely discussed topic in linguistic research within the
last twenty to thirty years. Considering that the biological basis of the
cognitive apparatus is shared by all human beings, it is assumed that the
perception of spatial scenes is processed on shared principles of signal
processing and signal interpretation. A standard assumption concerning the
linguistic expressions of topological spatial scenes is that these are grounded
in geometrical-functional concepts (Vandeloise 1986, Nüse 1999, Coventry
& Garrod 2004) and that concepts like INCLUSION/CONTAINMENT,
SURFACE/SUPERPOSITION are universal primitives (Miller & Johnson-Laird 1976,
Wunderlich 1986, Klein 1991, Landau & Jackendoff 1993) which can not only be
found as basic semantic features cross-linguistically but also find their
expression as basic members of the lexicon. Recent research shows, however, that
the morpho-syntax and semantics of spatial expressions is rather diverse across
languages, i.e. one cannot find the expected semantic uniformity of topological
expressions cross-linguistically (e.g. Levinson 2003, Levinson & Wilkins
(eds.) 2006). It is argued that the conceptualisation of space is not only
dependent on biological but also on linguistic and cultural factors. These
researchers also argue for universal ordering principles underlying linguistic
structure (e.g. Bowerman & Chooi 2001, Levinson & Meira 2003, Brala
2007). But instead of universal
conceptual
categories, it is
argued, the conceptual domain of topological space is structured by universal
ordering
principles resulting in an implicational hierarchy
comparable to the hierarchy found for basic colour terms. It is assumed that
topological spatial expressions cover adjacent sections of a semantic space
which is thought of as ordered according to universal conceptual principles (the
so-called similarity space). Thus, for the spatial sub-domain of topological
relations, Bowerman & Choi (2001) and Levinson & Meira (2003) state that
cross-linguistically, concepts of topological spatial relations are ordered
along the so-called IN-ON-scale. Figure 4 represents this scale as it is
supposed by Levinson & Meira (2003: 488). Although the representations of
the supposed scale differ from author to author (cp. e.g. Bowerman & Choi
(2001) with Levinson & Meira (2003) and Brala (2007)), the overall idea is
that configurations are ordered along geometric-functional similarities with
full containment and superposition forming the endpoints of the scale. It is
supposed that a spatial relator is restricted to denoting only adjacent
configurations of the scale, as is illustrated with English prepositions in
figure 4. As became evident from the discussion of the Laz data in section 4,
the preverbs in Laz, although functionally equivalent to adpositions and local
cases on the ground of which the scale was established, do not adhere to the
ordering principles stated by the IN-ON-scale.
Figure 4: IN-ON-scale (Levinson & Meira 2003: 488) with
English and Laz example data
As figure 4 shows, Laz contradicts the supposed
universality of semantic ordering principles underlying the IN-ON-scale. For
instance, with respect to the Laz preverb ce- we find that it covers
discontinuous parts of the scale. It applies for the configurations ‘hat
on head’ and ‘apple in bowl’ but not for ‘cork in a
bottle neck’ and ‘box in a bag’. As became evident in section
4, geometrical-functional concepts such as [surface/superposition] and
[inclusion/containment] are not the primary conceptual parameters underlying the
meaning of Laz preverbs. For Laz, the parameters [axial orientation], [shape
property of the ground] and [deictic perspective] are relevant for the
conceptualization of both static and dynamic spatial scenes.
In sum, the system of spatial preverbs which are used in descriptions of
spatial scenes in Laz is structured as presented in figure 5.
Figure 5: Flowchart of Concepts Relevant for the Use of
Spatial Preverbs in Laz
6. Summary
In sum, the data in this paper show that Laz means for the
descriptions of spatial relations give some interesting insights in the
differences and commonalities of spatial conceptualization.
It has been shown that Laz prefers the satellite-framed strategy, i.e.
motion-manner conflation in the roots of motion verbs. With respect to locative
expressions it belongs to the multi-verb-type languages.
Ardeşen-Laz differs from the other varieties
of Laz with respect to its spatial cases; it has a motative case which conflates
the allative with the ablative function and thus has a spatial case which seems
to be typologically exceptional.
Spatial configurations are expressed mainly in the verbal complex.
Preverbs relate to the configurational properties of the ground while the verb
root focuses on the properties of the figure. It has been shown that even in
description of static spatial scenes the use of Laz spatial preverbs relates to
the path along which the figure moves or is moved to achieve its final locative
position. Whether the figure is in a containment- or surface-relation then
follows from world-knowledge, i.e., is the result of pragmatic inference by the
hearer. It has been argued that the parameters i) [axial orientation of the
configuration] (with the values [vertical], [horizontal] and [neutral]), ii)
[shape property of the ground] (with the values [1D], [cylindrical], [dense],
[heap]), and iii) [deictic perspective] (with the values [towards deictic
center/belonging-to], [away from deictic center]) are the relevant meaning
components of Laz preverbs. It has further been argued that for Laz,
geometrical-functional spatial concepts such as [surface/superposition] and
[inclusion/containment] are not the primary spatial concepts and that the
IN-ON-scale proposed e.g. by Bowerman & Choi (2001) and Levinson & Meira
(2003) does not hold for spatial relators in Laz.
Abbreviations
A
|
Actor
|
CAUS
|
causative
|
cyl
|
cylindrical
|
DAT
|
dative
|
F
|
Figure
|
FUT.PFV
|
future perfective
|
G
|
Ground
|
IMPER
|
imperative
|
MOD
|
speaker modality/focus particle
|
MOT
|
motative case
|
NEG
|
negation
|
NOM
|
nominative
|
P
|
person
|
PAST.PFV
|
past perfective
|
PL
|
plural
|
POSS
|
possessive
|
POT
|
potential
|
PRS
|
present tense
|
PRV
|
preverb
|
PTCP
|
participle
|
QU
|
question marker
|
QUOT
|
quotative marker
|
SG
|
singular
|
TAM
|
tense aspect mood
|
U
|
Undergoer
|
VV
|
version vowel
|
[ >]
|
verbform is marked for two arguments, subject (= A) acting on object (=
U)
|
|
|
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[1]
I would like to thank
Ioana Chitoran, Denis Creissels, Colette Grinevald, René Lacroix and
Dejan Matić for inspiring comments on
previous versions of this paper. I am also grateful to the patience and
helpfulness of the Laz speakers in the region of Ardeşen and in Germany,
who have supported my work for several years now.
[2]
Examples of my own
data are written in the
Lazoğlu/Feurstein-alphabet introduced to
the Laz community in Turkey in 1984. It deviates from the Caucasianists’
transcription in the following graphemes (<Laz =
Caucasianist>):
<ç=č>,
<ç̆=č'>,
<c=ǰ>,
<ǩ=k'>, <p̆=p'>,
<ş=š>, <t̆=t'>,
<ʒ=c>,
<ǯ=c'>. For cited data from other sources the original transcription and
glossing has been kept.
[3]
Polypersonal
inflecting verbs are marked for two arguments. In the glosses this is
represented by an angled bracket “>”, which indicates that an
actor (A) is acting on an undergoer (U).
[4]
The term Basic Spatial
Construction is based on the term Basic Locative Construction as used by
Levinson (2000), Levinson & Wilkins (eds.) (2006).
[5]
The ground is not
obligatorily marked with a case marker. The presence of the case marker is
conditioned by the characteristics of the spatial relator as well as the verb
stem and by discourse-pragmatics. If a dynamic spatial expression does only
exhibit a simplex verb, i.e. a verb that does not have a preverb, then the use
of the motative case is obligatory. With verbs of motion and caused motion that
contain a preverb the use of the motative is more complex (for details, cf.
Kutscher 2010).
[6]
With respect to their
morphological form we can see that all three preverbs do not only share a common
semantic feature ([dense]/[narrow], [amidst]) but also share some phonological
material. Although the final part of the preverbs,
/şǩa/,
is not productive and cannot be used independently from these preverbs to
express density or narrowness, it may well be that diachronically it served as a
morpheme of its own. In modern Laz there is still a noun
şǩa
‘waist’ and another noun derived from this body part term
oşǩena
‘middle of something’.
[7]
It may as well be
argued that this also has its repercussions in morphology since all preverbs
referring to the 1-dimensionality of the ground share some phonological
substance, namely /lV/, which might be analysed as a marker for 1-dimensionality
of the ground referent. This supposed morpheme however is not productive in
modern Laz and cannot be used independently. Additionally the
morpho-phonological form of this element is similar for only part of the
preverbs. While it shows morpho-phonologically triggered change of the vowel for
the preverbs
cela-, ela-, gola- and
mola-, the preverb
dolo- does not show an alternation in phonological form. Moreover, while
the preverbs
cela- and
ela- alternate between /la/ and /le/, the
preverbs
mola- and
gola- alternate between /la/ and /lo/. Whether
the differences in mopho-phonological behaviour for preverbs containing /lV/ and
referring to the 1-dimensionality of a ground referent can be explained
diachronically needs further investigation.
[8]
In contrast to e.g.
German or English, where the geometrical-functional concepts
[containment/inclusion] and [surface contact] apply to locational and goal as
well as to source expressions: Grm.
in -> aus, auf/an ->
von…runter/weg;
Engl.
in -> out, on -> from.
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