Abstract
M.A.
The term locative refers to all words that have a locative meaning. They include
locative nouns, i.e. nouns that belong to classes 16, 17 and 18. Locatively derived
nouns, i.e. nouns to which the locative prefix and/or suffix or variants thereof have
been added to convey a locative meaning, are also included. Word groups and certain
nouns can also obtain a locative meaning by the addition of the locative particle or
locative possessive particle.
Various theories on the origin of the locative prefix, suffix and class prefixes are
discussed. The word status of locatives is investigated, leading to the conclusion that
locatives belong to the word class "noun".
A morphological description of locative nouns as well as of the norm and variants of the
locative prefix and suffix used with locatively derived nouns is provided. The
morphological features of the locative particle and the locative possessive particle are
discussed.
As a result of the combination of locative morphemes with nouns in the derivation of
locatives or particles that occur with word groups, certain sound changes occur. These
changes can be organized logically and in detail by using phonological rules.
In European languages the meaning of locatives is conveyed by adverbs and
prepositions. The basic semantic feature of locatives is the feature [+ locality]. In
certain instances it also has the feature of reference to an object.
Locatives have a wide variety of possible syntactical uses, including the following:
subject valence, object valence, descriptive (or adverbial) valence, complementary
valence, qualificative and antecedental valence. Pronouns derived from the locative
noun classes can serve as auxiliary verbs and conjunctions. In certain syntactical
contexts the locative prefix can be omitted from locatively derived nouns