Re: Particle NI directionless?

mirror <mailto@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

Am I correct in sensing that the particle NI when used to flag
living beings rather than places actually is directionless and
refers to position in the most generic sense?

I'd phrase it as "neutral in regard to direction", since
"directionless" slightly implies that it takes away direction. That's
not what you mean, as you later make clear, but it did confuse me on
reading your message at first.

For example, in the donatory verbs, the direction of giving and
receiving is contained in the verb; in the motion verbs, the
direction of travel is contained in the verb; and in the causative
and construction, the direction of compulsion is flagged likewise.
NI seems to say nothing about *to* and *from*.

Yes.

The more I look at NI in sentences involving living beings, the
more it looks like NI flags something animate performing *with* the
living being that is flagged by WA, GA, and MO in specifying the
experiencers of the verb. It really seems more akin to O,
particularly in the donatory structures, when it flags a being that
otherwise could occupy the same slot in the sentence as a thing
flagged by O.

I tend to think of that usage of "ni" as marking "the other party to
the verb".

--
\ "If [a technology company] has confidence in their future |
`\ ability to innovate, the importance they place on protecting |
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Ben Finney
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