This volume explores properties of ‘sit’, ‘stand’, and ‘lie’ verbs, reflecting three of the most salient postures associated with humans. An introductory chapter by the Editor provides an overview of directions for research into posture verbs. These directions are then explored in detail in a number of languages: Dutch; Korean; Japanese; Lao; Chantyal, Magar (Tibeto-Burman); Chipewyan (Athapaskan); Trumai (spoken in Brazil); Kxoe (Khoisan); Mbay (Nilo-Saharan); Oceanic; Enga, Ku Waru (Papuan); Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, Ngan’gityemerri (Australian). The contributors discuss data relevant to many fields of linguistic inquiry, including patterns of lexicalization (e.g., simplex or complex verb forms), morphology (e.g., state vs. action formations), grammaticalization (e.g., extension to locational predicates, aspect markers, auxiliaries, copulas, classifiers), and figurative extension. A final chapter reports on an experimental methodology designed to establish the relevant cognitive parameters underlying speakers’ judgements on the polysemy of English stand. Taken together, the chapters provide a wealth of cross-linguistic data on posture verbs.

Table of Contents

Preface vii 1. A cross-linguistic overview of the posture verbs ‘sit’, ‘stand’, and ‘lie’ John Newman 1 2. Semantics and combinatorics of ‘sit’, ‘stand’, and ‘lie’ in Lao Nick J. Enfield 25 3. Action and state interpretations of ‘sit’ in Japanese and English John Newman and Toshiko Yamaguchi 43 4. Posture and existence predicates in Dene Suiné (Chipewyan): Lexical and semantic density as a function of the ‘stand’/‘sit’/‘lie’ continuum Sally Rice 61 5. Posture verbs in two Tibeto-Burman languages of Nepal Michael Noonan and Karen Grunow-Harsta 79 6. The semantic network of Dutch posture verbs Maarten Lemmens 103 7. The syntax and semantics of posture forms in Trumai Raquel Guirardello-Damian 141 8. Men stand, women sit: On the grammaticalization of posture verbs in Papuan languages, its bodily basis and cultural correlates Alan L. Rumsey 179 9. Posture, location, existence, and states of being in two Central Australian languages Cliff Goddard and Jean Harkins 213 10. Sit right down the back: Serialized posture verbs in Ngan’gityemerri and other Northern Australian languages Nicholas Reid 239 11. Posture verbs in Oceanic Frank Lichtenberk 269 12. The grammatical evolution of posture verbs in Kxoe Christa Kilian-Hatz 315 13. Posture verbs in Mbay John M. Keegan 333 14. The posture verbs in Korean: Basic and extended uses Jae Jung Song 359 15. Embodied standing and the psychological semantics of stand Raymond W. Gibbs Jr. 387 Index 401