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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

ORCID logo | 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
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Topographical deixis
  • 3.Distribution in Trans-Himalayan
    • 3.1Survey and methods
    • 3.2Discussion
      • 3.2.1Kiranti
      • 3.2.2Macro-Tani (Tani and Siangic)
      • 3.2.3Lolo-Burmese
      • 3.2.4Kachinic and Brahmaputran (“Sal”)
      • 3.2.5Tamangic, Bodish, East Bodish, West Himalayish, ‘Olekha (Black Mountain) and Tshangla
      • 3.2.6Lepcha
      • 3.2.7rGyalrongic-Qiangic, Ěrsūish and Naic
      • 3.2.8Mishmic
      • 3.2.9Kho-Bwa
      • 3.2.10“Hrusish” (Hruso and Mijiic)
      • 3.2.11Nungish
      • 3.2.12Kuki-Chin, and other language groups of the Indo-Myanmar border region
      • 3.2.13Other subgroups
  • 4.Historical status
    • 4.1Summary of genealogical distribution
    • 4.2Summary of geographic distribution
    • 4.3Conservation or parallel innovation?
    • 4.4Implications for Trans-Himalayan prehistory
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 3 August 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.19018.pos
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