How to distinguish between semantically close cases: A case study of Mordvin illative and lative

Erkkila, Riku (2022): How to distinguish between semantically close cases: A case study of Mordvin illative and lative. In: Voprosy Yazykoznaniya, No. 5: pp. 86-107

Abstract

In this paper I discuss the distribution of goal-cases in Erzya and Moksha (Mordvin, Uralic). Both languages have two productive goal-cases, namely illative and lative, but only one productive case for every other spatial relation (location, source, path). Furthermore, the two goal-cases do not seem to exhibit any clear division of labor (e.g., marking inner and outer goals). Previous studies have proposed different solutions, but they do not cover all the occurring variation, and thus are not general enough. In my study I propose that the best way to account for this phenomenon is to investigate the similarities in the language-external situations that are coded with each case. To accomplish this, I adopt the Cognitive Linguistics framework, and look at the conceptualizations of situations where each case is used. I assess the types of nouns used as Landmarks and divide them into eight categories: 0D objects, 2D bounded and unbounded entities, 3D bounded and unbounded entities, institutions, abstract entities, and temporal entities. The bulk of this paper treats the first five categories, i.e. spatial relations. I show that there are clear preferences of coding goal with one or the other case when the Landmark represents a certain category. Then I show that similar preferences are at work when coding goals with other types of Landmarks as well. After establishing these preferences, I go on to propose a solution to the variation of goal-marking in Mordvin languages based on the specificity of the relation between the Trajector and the Landmark.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Languages and Literatures > Department 1
• Subjects: 400 Language > 400 Language
• ISSN: 0373-658X
• Language: English