| A three-way distinction
is found in deictic pronouns on relational distance between the speaker
and the referent. The division is as follows : |
|
(a) Proximate
(b) Intermediate
distance
(c) Far away from
the speaker
|
|
|
| ‘siksi’,
‘insi’ and ‘intosi’ are used respectively for the above categories.
This is reflected in demonstratives also. |
The same
distinction is found to operate in adverbs of place. They are formed
by adding the locative element ‘o’ to the deictic pronouns and third
person pronoun - h
‘he/she/it’ (unknown/invisible). |
|
si + 0
|
à
|
so
|
|
inso+0
|
à
|
inso
|
|
intosi+0
|
à
|
intoso
|
h+0
|
à
|
ho
|
|
|
| As shown
above, as a result of sandhi changes, the forms given in the right
hand side of the arrow are derived forms. They are listed with meaning
below : |
|
so
|
‘here (proximate)’
|
|
inso
|
‘there
(intermediate distance)’
|
|
intoso
|
‘there (far
away)’
|
|
ho
|
‘there
(unknown/inivisible)’
|
|
|
The deictic
categories ‘si’ and ‘hi’ are also used as determiners.
They are added with generic nouns to limit their referential range
and to identify the spatial position. ‘si’ is added to the noun/noun
phrases to indicate the proximity of the referent and ‘hi’
to indicate the remoteness of the referent. Otherwise, the noun appears
without either one of it. Though it is permitted to add these determiners
to all nouns in a sentence, usually the subject noun takes the determiner.
Other nouns, usually, appear without the determiner. |
