LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 17:4 April 2017
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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The Structure of Spatial Relators in Malayalam

P. Sreedevi, Ph.D. Scholar

Abstract

This paper is an enquiry into the syntax and semantics of the putative spatial post-position/relator nouns in Malayalam. Following the work of Svenonius (2004, 2006b), Amirtavalli (2007), I would like to argue that the spatial P in Malayalam has a layered functional structure above the DP. I would also demonstrate using the principle of head to head movement and fusion analysis by Siddiqui (2009) that the putative post-positions in Malayalam like munn-il ‘front’, thaazhe‘down’, veLiyil ‘out’ etc., are derived in the syntactic structure via the incorporation of the locative case -ilinto category- neutral roots like -mun, -pin etc., that denote axial parts. I would also like to explain the ambiguity between the part and projective sense of these axial “post-positions” is caused by the homonymy of locative case –il that can head the functional projection PLACEloc P or PlaceP, which can only be differentiated via secondary exponent. That is, on the basis of what case the complement DP is assigned.

Keywords: Malayalam, Post-position, Spatial Relators, Axial-Parts, Functional Structure, Distributed Morphology, Cartography

Overview

In Malayalam, the basic locative construction is of the format ‘X Y-(loc) Copula’- X being the ‘figure’ or the entity whose location is in question; Y being the stable ‘ground’ that anchors the existence of the figure and ‘loc’ being the locative marker relating the figure X to the ground Y.

The relationship between the figure and the ground can either be A. Topologically specified- when there is a spatial coincidence or near-coincidence between the figure and ground. It includes sub-relations such as proximity, contact and containment etc. See examples 1a and 1b.

Or B. Angularly specified- where the axial geometry of the ground is accessed and the figure is located along that axis. In Malayalam the secondary tier of axial information is conveyed via functional class that have been called relator/auxiliary nouns or post-positions. See example 1c. Let us call them Spatial Relators. (Henceforth SR.)

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

P. Sreedevi, Ph.D. Scholar
Centre for Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies
University of Hyderabad
C. R., Prof CR Rao Rd, CUC
Gachibowli
Hyderabad 500046
Telangana
India
p.sreedevi24@gmail.com
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