The conceptualization of spatial relationships as expressed by locative structures in Northern Sotho

Abstract

Three types of locatives are investigated with regard to the structural and semantic features which distinguish them from one another, i.e. locative nouns, locativized nouns, and locative particle groups. An explanation is put forward, for the co-occurrence of these three structures in Northern Sotho and the ways in which mother-tongue speakers possibly conceptualize the spatial relationships expressed by these structures are investigated.