Grammars of Space: Explorations in Cognitive Diversity

by Edited by Stephen C. Levinson , David P. Wilkins

• ISBN13: 9780521855839
• ISBN10: 0521855837
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-09
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Spatial language - that is, the way languages structure the spatial domain - is an important area of research, offering insights into one of the most central areas of human cognition. In this collection, a team of leading scholars review the spatial domain across a wide variety of languages. Contrary to existing assumptions, they show that there is great variation in the way space is conceptually structured across languages, thus substantiating the controversial question of how far the foundations of human cognition are innate. Grammars of Space is a supplement to the psychological information provided in its companion volume, Space in Language and Cognition. It represents a new kind of work in linguistics, 'Semantic Typology', which asks what are the semantic parameters used to structure particular semantic fields. Comprehensive and informative, it will be essential reading for those working on comparative linguistics, spatial cognition, and the interface between them.

Table of Contents

List of figures	ix
List of tables	xi
List of contributors	xiv
Preface	xv
1 The background to the study of the language of space	1	(23)
STEPHEN C. LEVINSON AND DAVID P. WILKINS
1.1 Spatial language and cognition	1	(1)
1.2 Nature of this book	2	(4)
1.3 The language sample	6	(2)
1.4 Controlled comparison: the stimuli	8	(7)
1.5 Patterns of variation	15	(7)
1.6 Conclusion	22	(2)
2 Towards an Arrernte grammar of space	24	(39)
DAVID P. WILKINS
2.1 The language and its speakers	24	(1)
2.2 Brief overview of the main features of Arrernte grammar	25	(4)
2.3 Topological relations	29	(10)
2.4 Motion	39	(13)
2.5 Frames of reference	52	(8)
2.6 Conclusion	60	(3)
3 Sketch of a Jaminjung grammar of space	63	(52)
EVA SCHULTZE-BERNDT
3.1 Introduction	63	(1)
3.2 The language and its speakers	63	(1)
3.3 Grammatical and lexical resources for spatial description	64	(8)
3.4 Topological relations	72	(11)
3.5 Motion	83	(20)
3.6 Frames of reference	103	(9)
3.7 Summary	112	(3)
4 Prolegomenon to a Warrwa grammar of space	115	(42)
WIILLIAM B. MCGREGOR
4.1 The Warrwa language and its speakers	115	(2)
4.2 Overview of Warrwa grammar	117	(6)
4.3 Topological relations	123	(12)
4.4 Motion	135	(13)
4.5 Frames of reference	148	(6)
4.6 Conclusion	154	(3)
5 The language of space in Yéli Dnye	157	(49)
STEPHEN C. LEVINSON
5.1 The language and culture of Rossel Island	157	(1)
5.2 Some salient features of the grammar	158	(6)
5.3 Topological relations	164	(19)
5.4 Frames of reference	183	(8)
5.5 Deixis	191	(1)
5.6 Motion description	192	(12)
5.7 Conclusions	204	(2)
6 Prolegomena to a Kilivila grammar of space	206	(24)
GUNTER SENFT
6.1 Introduction	206	(1)
6.2 Kilivila - the language of the Trobriand Islanders	207	(2)
6.3 Topological relations	209	(8)
6.4 Motion	217	(5)
6.5 Frames of reference	222	(6)
6.6 Summary and concluding remarks	228	(2)
7 A sketch of the grammar of space in Tzeltal	230	(43)
PENELOPE BROWN
7.1 Introduction	230	(3)
7.2 Grammatical resources for spatial description	233	(7)
7.3 Static location	240	(11)
7.4 Motion	251	(12)
7.5 Frames of reference	263	(8)
7.6 Conclusion	271	(2)
8 Spatial reference in Yukatek Maya: a survey	273	(38)
JÜRGEN BOHNEMEYER AND CHRISTEL STOLZ
8.1 Introduction	273	(1)
8.2 The language and its speakers	274	(2)
8.3 Some elements of YM morphosyntax	276	(13)
8.4 Topological relations	289	(4)
8.5 Motion	293	(9)
8.6 Frames of reference	302	(7)
8.7 Concluding remarks	309	(2)
9 Approaching space in Tiriyó grammar	311	(48)
SÉRGIO MEIRA
9.1 Introduction: Tiriyó and its speakers	311	(1)
9.2 A brief overview of Tiriyó grammar	312	(3)
9.3 Topology	315	(24)
9.4 Motion	339	(11)
9.5 Frames of reference	350	(8)
9.6 Conclusion	358	(1)
10 Elements of the grammar of space in Ewe	359	(41)
FELIX K. AMEKA AND JAMES ESSEGBEY
10.1 The language and its relevance for spatial language research	359	(1)
10.2 Grammatical overview	360	(10)
10.3 Topological relations	370	(12)
10.4 Frames of reference	382	(5)
10.5 Motion	387	(11)
10.6 Conclusion	398	(2)
11 Spatial language in Tamil	400	(37)
ERIC PEDERSON
11.1 Tamil and Tamils	400	(1)
11.2 Grammatical sketch	401	(3)
11.3 Topological relations	404	(11)
11.4 Motion events	415	(10)
11.5 Deixis and frames of reference	425	(9)
11.6 Conclusions	434	(3)
12 A grammar of space in Japanese	437	(38)
SOTARO KITA
12.1 Introduction	437	(1)
12.2 Very brief grammatical overview of the language	437	(1)
12.3 Location	438	(11)
12.4 Motion	449	(21)
12.5 Contextual factors for the choice of frames of reference	470	(3)
12.6 Conclusions	473	(2)
13 Some properties of spatial description in Dutch	475	(37)
MIRIAM VAN STADEN, MELISSA BOWERMAN AND MARIET VERHELST
13.1 Introduction	475	(1)
13.2 Dutch: the language and its speakers	475	(2)
13.3 Grammatical background to spatial descriptions in Dutch	477	(8)
13.4 Topological relations	485	(15)
13.5 Motion descriptions	500	(6)
13.6 Conclusion	506	(4)
13.7 Discussion	510	(2)
14 Patterns in the data: towards a semantic typology of spatial description	512	(41)
STEPHEN C. LEVINSON AND DAVID P. WILKINS
14.1 Universals and particulars: variation and its limits in semantic typology	512	(2)
14.2 Topology	514	(13)
14.3 Motion	527	(14)
14.4 Frames of reference	541	(9)
14.5 Conclusions	550	(3)
Appendices	553	(23)
References	576	(24)
Author index	600	(4)
Language/Language family index	604	(3)
Subject index	607