Re: Linguistic encoding of direction (Re: The Conlang Instinct)

artabanos@mail.utexas.edu writes:
>This raises an interesting question:  how are directions encoded
>linguistically in our conlangs?  In one of my classes this semester, we
>discussed how certain native cultures of the Americas have highly baroqu=
e
>systems for indicating concepts like this, but it was usually dependent =
on
>the
>type of terrain that was normal for the environment in which they lived.
>So, for example, cultures like the Sioux that lived on the Great Plains
>in States like Kansas, Nebraska, etc. would grammaticalize terms
>for the cardinal directions, presumably because of a dearth of prominent
>landmarks on the plains, while tribes in California or Alaska, generally
>mountainous and forested places, would build their directional systems
>based on relative directions like "up river", "down river" etc.
>
>So, how do other people here on the list manage this?=20

Well, for the Saalangal, the cardinal directions are determined from
looking to where the sun rises. They would orient a map with east at the
top.

east - an=FAma' (the front of the body)
south - kab=E1a (the right side of the body)
west - sel=F3ng (the back of the body)
north -  payl=E1 (the left side of the body)

The demonstrative pronouns are:


place
diy=F3 - here - near speaker
dis=F3n - there - near listener
dis=E9n - there - far from both

things (non subject)
niy=F3 - this - near speaker
nis=F3n - that - near listener
nis=E9n - that  - far from both

things (subject)
iy=F3 - this - near speaker
iy=F3n - that - near listener
iy=E9n - that - far from both

Sample sentence:

Get the book over there by him/her  for me - Taminy=E1 un =E9san yu ag=E1=
ho'
dis=E9n ngo taw (Lit. benefactive.imp.get  -  you  - (for) me  - [subj.
marker] -   book  - over.there  - by  - him/her. ).

When giving directions, Saalangal use landmarks (Mountains, hills, plains=
,
forest, rocky beach, sandy beach, river, etc.)=20