Abstract:
Investigates the usage of Mpi deictic motion verbs in different speech events, both unmarked and marked, as well as spatial deixis system in Mpi. Spatial description in Mpi is also studied so as to find its relationship with spatial deixis in this language. There are three systems in spatial description in Mpi, i.e., relative, absolute and intrinsic. In the absolute one, height is anchored as an essential element. There two types of spatial deictics in Mpi, namely demonstratives and deictic motion verbs. All of them are free morphemes. Four types of denonstratives, i.e., demonstrative adjectives, demonstrative pronouns, demonstrative adverbs and demonstrative adverbs of manner, indicate the proximity and distance of the speaker and/or addressee. In addition, the four types can also indicate the position near the speaker or near the addressee and the demonstrative adverbs can also indicate the area or position only of the speaker. Eleven deictic motion verbs studied, for example, go-come and take-bring, not only indicate the directions of movement, but also cardinal directions (only East and West) and height. These verbs can function as main and subsidiary verbs and can be used in both unmarked and marked situations. In general, it seems that the ones indicating West/low level appear more frequently in marked ones. However, it is argued that in Mpi culture, East and high level are more culturally significant than west and low level.