Spatial Expressions In Sinhala

Appearance of Verb Forms

Abstract

Most of the studies done on locative constructions in many languages show the relationship between the figure and the ground in terms of geometrical and/or topological terms. This paper shows that in Sinhala the locative expressions answer the question not only Where is the object X?' but also 'How the figure is oriented in relation to the ground?'. Also it is shown that the verb forms appearing in Sinhala locative expressions, are sensitive to the animate/inanimate distinction.