Location
Location is expressed differently for different types of things. For conscious human beings, the default way of expressing location is using the verb “be seated”. This verb may be used even if the person is not seated. Another verb commonly used for people is “work, do”.
The location of animals other than human beings may be expressed by an appropriate posture verb or by a motion verb of the type that indicates that the subject is moving around but not going anywhere in particular. The location of dogs, cats, cattle, moose, caribou and similar animals is often expressed using the verb “walk in a loop on all limbs”.
The location of inanimate objects, as well as that of living things that are unconscious, dead, or otherwise not considered as taking an active role in their location, is expressed by a set of special location verbs which form one of the four types of Classificatory Verbs.
| Category | Abbreviation | Example | Verb (3sia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| non-plural default-generic | npd-g | cup | us̲'ai |
| non-plural default-n | npd-n | ball | niz̲'ai |
| non-plural default-d | npd-d | rock | diz̲'ai |
| non-plural default-wh | npd-wh | house | whuz̲'ai |
| multiple default object-generic | mdo-g | cups | us̲la |
| multiple default object-n | mdo-n | balls | niz̲la |
| multiple default object-d | mdo-d | rocks | diz̲la |
| multiple default object-wh | mdo-wh | houses | whuz̲dla |
| effectively uncountable objects-generic | euc-g | sugar | us̲d̲z̲ai |
| effectively uncountable objects-n | euc-n | berries | nis̲d̲z̲ai |
| effectively uncountable objects-d | euc-d | toothpicks | dis̲d̲z̲ai |
| long rigid object-generic | lro-g | canoe | us̲tan |
| long rigid object-d | lro-d | stick | diz̲tan |
| body | body | fish | s̲ulhti |
| contents of open container | coc | cup of tea | us̲kai |
| contents of deep, narrow receptacle, living fish | cdr | flour in sack | s̲ulhtan |
| two-dimensional flexible | 2df | shirt | s̲ulhchooz̲ |
| mushy stuff | mushy | mud | s̲utle |
| liquid | liquid | water | s̲ulhdzo |
| mossy | hay-like | hay | dilhdze |
| fluffy | fluffy | down | nilhdo |
The verbs for the contents of a deep, narrow receptacle are rarely used at present.
In contrast to English, neither of the verbs “be” or “be”, is used to express location.
| Essay List | | |