The Preposition (fii) in the Horizontal and Vertical Axes as Used in the Taizzi Dialect: A Cognitive Approach

Abstract

In this paper the framework of Cognitive Grammar (CG) developed by Langacker is adopted to attain a cognitive semantic analysis of the use of the Arabic prepositions (fii) in the horizontal and vertical axes, as used in the Taizzi dialect. Although, encoding the sense of CONTAINMENT, the preposition (fii) is assumed not to play any role in the horizontal and vertical axes; the use of the preposition (fii) in the TD proves things differently. The problem with (fii) is that it is very tempting to be used in the locative sense in which one physical entity is CONTAINED WITHIN another physical entity. However, the cognitive analysis of (fii) justifies the use of this preposition in many instances of the Taizzi dialect where this preposition is seemingly exploited to encode non-containment-related spatial relations. This unfolds some of the unsolved issues concerning prepositions in general and the Arabic prepositions in particular taking the use of (fii) in the Taizzi dialect as a sample. The data presented in this paper show that speakers of the Taizzi dialect extend the use of (fii) to depict spatial relations other than the ones where the Trajector (TR) is actually contained within the boundaries of the Landmark (LM). The instances analyzed in this paper show that (fii) encodes spatial relations in which the TR and the LM are horizontally or vertically related to each other. However, the use of the preposition (fii) by speakers of the Taizzi dialect to encode these spatial relations proves they cognitively characterized the LMs as containers that contain the TRs.

A Cognitive Linguistic Study of the English Preposition 'in'

“…They also find that the preposition fi is used to denote spatial relations where the trajector (TR) is situated on the landmark (LM), the TR is under the LM, the TR is inevitably directed towards the LM, the TR and the LM are facing one another, and others. However, the analysis presented in this paper has established that in all these spatial relations, speakers of the TD cognitively characterized LMs as containers that contain TRs (Mohammed et al, 2012).…”

Conceptualizing the Preposition /ʕalaa/ in the Taizzi Dialect: a Cognitive Semantic Approach

“…It becomes clear that the TD is employed in the everyday life of the people of Taiz, and that the speakers of the TD switch to Standard Arabic only when the necessity calls for that. As for running their daily affairs, the speakers of TD will only employ their own dialect, namely, the TD, (Mohammed, Turki 2012).…”

“…Nevertheless, in most of these studies, the topic of prepositions has been briefly explained if not totally neglected. For instance, Mohammed, Turki et al (2012).…”

Prepositions in MSA and English

“…Although they amply documented the spatial and non-spatial meanings of this preposition, the authors stopped short of providing an explanation as to why the two languages and cultures offer different conceptualizations of these spatial and non-spatial scenes. On the other hand, Mohammed et al (2012) argued that CONTAINMENT with in in MSA is sensitive to the vertical and horizontal axes. In contrast, a study by Maalej (s.…”

“…Yet, this lack of concavity and the vertical and horizontal posture of these Gs do not seem to preclude them from qualifying as containers. Containment in these two examples depends on the features of F, whereby G is penetrated by F. Working with the Taizzi dialect of Yemen,Mohammed et al (2012) argue that one of the uses of the preposition (fi) is that "the LM is situated horizontally above or under the TR" as in (7f) and (7c), respectively. It should be noted that if the Ground is horizontal here, obviously the Figure is situated vertically in relation to it.…”