Article published in:
Diachronica
Vol. 37:3 (2020) ► pp. 368–409

The distribution, reconstruction and varied fates of topographical deixis in Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan)

Implications for the reconstruction of an early Trans-Himalayan environment

| The University of Sydney
Topographical deixis refers to a variety of spatial-environmental deixis, in which typically distal reference to entities is made in terms of a set of topographically-anchored referential planes: most often, upward, downward, or on the same level. This article reviews the genealogical and geographic distribution of topographical deixis in Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan) languages, reviews the conditions in which topographical deixis in Trans-Himalayan languages may be gained or lost, and concludes that (a) topographical deixis is overwhelmingly found in languages spoken in montane environments, and (b) topographical deixis most likely reconstructs to a deep level within Trans-Himalayan. The language spoken at that level – whose precise phylogenetic status cannot yet be specified – was overwhelmingly likely to have been spoken in a montane environment.
Keywords: deixis, environmental deixis, topographical deixis, linguistic geography, montane languages, Trans-Himalayan languages, Sino-Tibetan languages, Tibeto-Burman languages, Himalayan languages
Published online: 03 August 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.19018.pos
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