Spatial Expressions In Sinhala: Appearance of Verb Forms

Most studies that have been conducted on locative constructions in many languages show the relationship between the figure and the ground in terms of geometrical or topological terms. This report shows that in Sinhala the locative expressions answer not only the question "Where is the object X," but also indicate how the figure is oriented in relation to the ground. It is also shown that the verb forms appearing in Sinhala locative expressions are sensitive to the animate/inanimate distinction. The major goal of the study is to show how the equivalents of English spatial prepositional expressions are constructed in Sinhala and how they differ from expressions in English. It is concluded that spatial expressions in Sinhala show that what Sinhala speakers conceive and conceptualize are not only the relation of the spatial entity to the localizer, but also the states, events, and actions that are involved in originating those schematizations. (JL) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. "f,ERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Mee of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONARESOURCES U INFORMATION 0 ER) his document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization origmating rt C Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points 01 view or opions stated in this docu ment do not necesinsaroy represent otticiat OERI position or policy SPATIAL EXPRESSIONS IN SINHALA: Appearance of Verb Forms