Article

Name: Linguistic means of expressing spatial relations: A case study of Tuvan literary texts

Authors: Lyudmila A. Shamina

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

This paper examines the linguistic mechanisms used to express spatial relations within Tuvan literary texts, focusing on localizers with spatial semantics. It characterizes the morpho-syntactic and lexical elements that reflect spatial representations in the language, including cases, functional nouns, pronouns, and verbs. The study demonstrates how local cases play a primary role in defining spatial positions. For instance, static positions such as agaarda (in the air) and khovuuga (in the steppe) are expressed via the locative and dative cases. Furthermore, the author considers the dependence of locative, dative, and lative case markers on the semantics of spatial predicates, as well as the polysemous use of the -bile case in trajectory functions. The use of the ablative case in defining specific points in space, such as cher kyryndan (on the ground) and bazhyndan (in the house), is also identified. By analyzing deictic units, the paper illustrates how the Tuvan worldview structures space relative to the observer into vertical and horizontal axes and zones of proximity and distance. Verticality is represented by oppositions such as örü-kudu (up-down); horizontality by murnunda (in front) vs. soonda (behind); and proximity by chanynda (surroundings) vs. distance yrak (far). Additionally, the distinction between internal and external space is examined through terms like ög (yurt) and cher (land/edge). The study also explores static semantics expressed through verbs of being, position, and location, as well as vocabulary reflecting sacred space in folkloric discourse. Finally, the syntactic means of expressing spatial semantics are categorized into three structural construction types.

Keywords: space, Tuvan language, localizer, text, spatial worldview, Tuvan ethnicity

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