Classroom:NTNU, LING1113 (2009) - Motion and Space

Definitions

First of we will define a number of notions of or related to space, deixis and motion. These notions will later on be used in trying to determine the exact semantical content of a set of norwegian (and danish) prepositions.

Spatial concepts

Spatial concepts are in essence relations between two or more instances. Whenever you make a statment about the location of an object, you state the location relative to another object. While you can claim that an object is inside another object, you cannot claim that it is inside, but not of another object.

The object whose location you make a statement about is called the located object, while the other object, which you compare the location of the located object with, is called the reference object.

Locations

Topological locations

Coincidence:

-The located object is in contact with the reference object.

Interiority:

-The located object is included or contained in the reference object.

Exteriority:

Projective locations

Inferiority:

-The located object is located in the area below the reference object, where below is defined in terms of the observer's point of view, or as defined by the reference object itself.

Superiority:

-The located object is located over the reference object. Over is defined in terms of the observer's point of view, or as defined by the reference object itself.

Anteriority:

-The located object is located behind the reference object. Behind is defined in terms of the observer's point of view, or as defined by the reference object itself.

Posteriority:

-The located object is located in fornt of the reference object. In front of is defined in terms of the observer's point of view, or as defined by the reference object itself.

Laterality:

Deixis

Reference point

Remoteness

Direction

Events

Motion

Motion is predominantly associated with actives

Theme/Figure

Source

Goal

Location

Path

Figure

Ground

Trajectory

Conveyance

Manner

Cause

Prepositions

ovenfor

The preposition ovenfor is used to indicate that the relation between the located object and the reference object is one of superiority, but not of coincidence.

In simpler terms: Object1 is ovenfor another object if it is located over that object - that is higher than it and in the space above it - but not if Object1 is touching the other object.

Bevegelsesverb

English - Motion verbs

This category of verbs denote movement, and these movements can be divided into subcategories.

In order to denote movement, we can use either a movement verb or a verb with a preposition. The latter is another story, and you can read about it in the page called 'Preposisjoner'. The scope of the 'Bevegelsesverb' page is to describe verbs denoting -by themselves - some kind of movement.

The following paragraphs suggest how we can divide motion verbs into subcategories:

- The movement can be done voluntarily or nonvoluntarily by the subject of the Pn-S.

- Does the movement denoted have a goal, a path or both? Or is the movement taking place a a spot?

- Come up with more as you desire...

Motion verbs:

  Gå, springe/løpe, dra/fare, komme, svømme, fly & kjøre & sykle.

Kanskje: Stikke, rømme, klatre, falle, stige