Adpositions

Adpositions are a closed class. They can be used in three different ways.

As a Preposition

The most basic use for an adposition is prefixed to a noun to signify where the action is taking place with relation to a reference. These act as prefixes.

di’i’uja

でいうぢ

di-’i’uja

up-table

“atop the table”

harul·lani

はるをわに

haru-lulani

with-queen

“with the queen”

nicula

にゆわ

ni-cula

at-egg

“in an egg”

Their nature as a prefix continues to apply even when the noun is already case-marked

qakalu’ita’i

げかをいたい

qa-kalu-’ita’i

down-abl-car

“down from the cart”

As a Nominal or Verbal Modifier

Adpositions can be used to form compound nouns:

gusu’adi

ぐすあで

gusu-’adi

person-near

lit: “nearby people”

“neighbours”

and compound verbs:

jannigibi

ぢっにぎび

janni-gibi

move-east

“to go east”

As an Adverb

Adpositions can be used independently to show the position of the action relative to the speaker, or the direction in which the action proceeds. Unlike other adverbs, these are placed before or instead of the auxiliary.

Luxira’uxxi qu’u cani dasi.

。をしらうっしもうやにだせ。

luxira’uxxi qu’u cani dasi.

Twins inside prs;dyn eat.

“The twins are eating inside.”

Kuddu qa hussu.

。くっどげ ほっす。

kuddu qa hussu.

Rain down fall.

lit: “Rain is falling down.”

“It’s raining.”

The auxiliary must appear to support an adverbial adposition in copular clauses.

Nimalu sani ra’u.

。にまをさにらう。

nimalu sani ra’u.

Bear north prs;sta.

“The bear is to the north.”

Kuhisuba ’adi na cijja.

。くひすばあでなちっぢ。

ku-hisuba ’adi na cijja.

dat-administrator near prs;hab alcohol.

“The minister is usually having a drink around now.”

Directions

This list includes both relative and absolute terms.

saqa さげ right

gi  left

ka  south

sumika すみか west

sani さに north

gibi ぎび east

Locations

These can be used to refer to locations in either space or time.

’adi あで near / now

xidu しど far / then

di  up / upstream

qa  down / downstream

’ari あり front / before

capi やぴ behind / after

pa  towards / at

ni  at / during

kika きか over / over

Spatial Locations

These can only be used to refer to locations in space.

jimuli じむえ outside

qu’u もう in; inside

nifi にべ beside

raqu らも among

ca  encircling

du’i どい beyond

la’a わあ on a horizontal surface

kadu かど on a vertical surface

Motion

These refer to motion.

data だた backwards

tirri てっり forwards

ja  along

ma’iki まいき across

tiku てく around

bi  out of

Animates

This group have animate objects.

haru はる with

ha  for the benefit of

’aga あが to the detriment of

Inanimates

This group have inanimate objects.

nidu にど using

sarru さっる instead of

haru はる consisting of

nina にな used for a purpose

sata さた in order to obtain

’arri あっり along with