Static and dynamic spatial constructions in the Udihe language

Abstract

The present paper describes Udihe verb predicates with the meaning of existence and location. Additionally, a number of verbs of motion and relocation are discussed. A classification of Udihe predicates is presented, taking into account the peculiarities of the syntactic government. Dynamic predicates can govern nouns in Accusative, Locative, Lative, Dative, as well as Ablative and Prolative cases. They may also govern denominal adverbs or postpositional phrases and even nouns in Instrumental case. Static predicates syntactically govern postpositional phrases or nouns in Locative, Lative, Dative, Accusative Spatial cases, as well as adverbs. Verbs of existence can govern nouns in Locative case or Comitative form. Verbs of storage or loss are used with the noun in Locative case. Verbs denoting the change of seasons coordinate with the noun in Nominative case or form a single-part sentence. Verbs of motion, embedding the seme of movement in the lexical meaning, can be used without a localizer in the Udihe language. This is due to the idea of the initial or final point of movement being obvious and embedded in the verb stem. The noun denoting the object of movement in constructions with such predicates is marked by the Accusative case. Some Udihe verbs can express a specific situation, denoting the degree of penetration of the object being moved into water or land.