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Spatial coordinate systems in demonstrative meaning

Author

Summary, in English

Exploring the semantic encoding of a group of crosslinguistically uncommon "spatial-coordinate demonstratives", this work establishes the existence of demonstratives whose function is to project angular search domains, thus invoking proper coordinate systems (or "frames of reference"). What is special about these distinctions is that they rely on a spatial asymmetry in relativizing a demonstrative referent (representing the Figure) to the deictic center (representing the Ground). A semantic typology of such demonstratives is constructed based on the nature of the asymmetries they employ. A major distinction is proposed between asymmetries outside the deictic Figure-Ground array (e.g., features of the larger environment) and those within it (e.g., facets of the speaker/addressee dyad). A unique system of the latter type, present in Jahai, an Aslian (Mon-Khmer) language spoken by groups of hunter-gatherers in the Malay Peninsula, is introduced and explored in detail using elicited data as well as natural conversational data captured on video. Although crosslinguistically unusual, spatial-coordinate demonstratives sit at the interface of issues central to current discourse in semantic-pragmatic theory: demonstrative function, deictic layout, and spatial frames of reference.

Publishing year

2008

Language

English

Pages

99-142

Publication/Series

Linguistic Typology

Volume

12

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

De Gruyter

Topic

  • General Language Studies and Linguistics

Keywords

  • deixis
  • demonstratives
  • figure-ground
  • frame of reference
  • Jahai
  • semantic typology
  • space

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1430-0532