9.3 Locational and existential predications 583[i-lla-\hln [y "ae-jrew]]
[3MaSgS-exist.PerfP-\Centrif [Dat Sg-river]]
'The town is (located) on the far side of (=across) the river.'
[K-d]c. azzaeY-aen [daer ae-kall en-daer]
dwell.PerfP-3MaPlS [in Sg-land Dist-Anaph]
an frontiere t-en-daer
Poss border Fe-Dist-Anaph
η i-lla-\hin [e humbari]
Poss 3MaSgS-exist.Reslt.\Centrif [Dat Hombori]
'They have lived in that land of (=around) that border area
(with Burkina Faso) that is located to the far side of Hombori.'That the combination of 'exist' and directional clitic is tending to become
a frozen unit is suggested by variable positioning of pronominalized datives.
These should normally intervene between -alia- and the directional, and may
do so (626.b-c), but are also attested following the directional (626.a).
(626) a. i-lla-\d-\ha-k
3MaSgS-exist.Reslt-\Centrip-\Dat-2Sg
'just this side of you-Sg' (i.e., in front of you, if you are facing
me)b. i-llae-\ha-k-\add
3MaSgS-exist.Reslt-\Dat-2Sg-\Centrip
[= a]c. i-llae-\ha-k-\in
3MaSgS-exist.Reslt-\Dat-2Sg-\Centrif
'just beyond you-Sg' (next to you on the side away from me)Locational predicates are generally based on the verb -vhi> 'be in' or
-vwvr- 'be on', both of which are simple transitives; see §9.1.3 for examples,
and see §7.3.2.12 for the irregular morphology of -vhi>. However, it is also
possible to use the existential verb in Resit form -alia- with a following
locational. This is appropriate when the specific locational nuances of -vhu-
'be in' or -vwvr- 'be on' do not apply, as in (627) with 'in front of X' as the
locational phrase.
(627) t-alle-d [dat 'ae-haen]
2S-exist.Reslt-2SgS [in.front.of Sg-house]
'You-Sg are in front of the house.' [R]