Distance contrasts in demonstratives (number)

Category
Nominal Categories - Definiteness and clusivity
Notes
Note the number of distances in the demonstrative system

Languages

Language Feature Status Grammatical Notes Source Etymology Notes General Notes Phylogenetic Code
Cahuilla 3
Cupeño 2
Luiseño 3
Serrano 3
Kitanemuk 3
Kawaiisu 2
Timbisha 3
Western Mono 2
Chemehuevi 2
Southern Paiute 2
Southern Ute 2
Shoshone 4
Comanche 3
Idaho Shoshone 4
Northern Paiute 2
Gabrielino 2
Achagua 2 Wilson & Levinsohn 1992: 25
Resígaro 2 Distal and proximate Allin, 1976: 199
Bare 3 Aikhenvald, 1995: 22
Piapoco 3 -i for things close to the deictic center, -de for things outside of the center, and -ra for things outside of the deictic space. Galindo, 2002: 186
Yukuna no info Demonstratives are not discussed among other part of speech. Shauer & Shauer, 2000
Yavitero 3 Mosonyi, 1987: p. 49
Wapishana 2 proximal and distant Santos 2006: 188
Wayuu 4 Mansen & Captain, 2000: p. 798
Tariana 2 Aikhenvald, 2003: 206
Apurinã 2 The demonstratives inflect for gender. Facundes, 2000: 355-357
Asheninka Apurucayali 3 Proximal, medial, distal Mihas 2010:174
Maipure no info Author claims demonstratives are not common Zamponi 2003:22
Yanesha' 3 Duff-Tripp 1997:53
Kinikinau no info
Baure 3 can also mean disapproval and absence. When used with an NP, "it generally moves the argument further away from the speaker and hearer" Danielsen 2007: p315
Nanti 3 speaker and addressee proximal, speaker proximal, and speaker distal Michael, 2008. p. 304-305
Paresi 2 Rowan 1978:xiii
Palikur 2 Green and Green 1972:63
Yine yes 2 distances (male, female, plural; near and distant respectively) Matteson 1965:107
Añun 3 proximate, far, farther for masc./non masc. Patte 1989:56
Bora yes 2 contrasts: that, this (as well as these, which is perceived through conext). Thiesen also notes a contrast of "some." Seifart - 2005:126; Thiesen - 1996:36
Makiritare 3 proximal, medial, distal for sing. and pl. Hall 1988: 101-3, 282-3
Makushi 2 near' and 'at a distance' Carson 1982: 92-93
Eñepa 2 Tosantos 1977:20
Pemon 3 sere, this (close); muere, that (farther); chinek, that over there (really far) de Armellada 1999: 62
Guna 2 distal, proximal Smith texts
Naso 3 3 distances (near, far, farthest) Quesada 2000
Ika 2 Frank 1985:35
Kogi 3 Celedón 1886:11
Cabecar no info
Guaymí 3 Quesada 2008:75
Damana no
Sikuani 2 proximal, distal Queixalós 1998:74-75
Macaguan no info Buenaventura - 1993
Aguaruna 3 Those are the nominative forms of the demosntratives. The demosntratives vary thier form according to the case they have (acc., loc., instr., etc.) Overall 2007:157
Northern Emberá 2 Aguirre 1999:78 Chamí
Waorani 3 Peeke 1973:129
Ingá 2 it appears that their system is similar to Spanish "aquí, aquel, este, esto, esta, etc.", however the data does not state this directly--this inference is, so far, borne out by the data Levinson 1974:13
Matses yes There is a three-term system. Fleck:258-9
Mapudungun yes 4 different distance forms Zúñiga 2006, p, 92
Páez 2 Rojas:197-8
Quechua Ayacuchano 3 kay "close", tʃai "medial" and wak "far" Parker 1965:36
Tikuna 4 Montes 2004b:74
Urarina yes 3-way distinction Olawsky:216
Waunana no info
Andoke 2 also a demonstrative for 'thing being talked about' ˄i Landaburu 1979: 135
Puinave 2 Table 12; Table 13 Giron 2008: p175
Central Aymara 4 Huayhua Pari 2001: 205
Kakua yes Bolaños fieldnotes
Kaingang 0 proximal - distal Goncalves 2011:289
Minica Witoto 3 3; close, distant, outside of view but audible Minor and Minor 1982. p.94
Hup 3 near, far, intangible Epps 2008
Nadëb/Roçado dialect 3 3, something like 'near', 'far', 'farther' (limited info) Weir 1984
Dâw 2 Martins 2004
Desano 2 proximate 'this' and distant 'that'; 'the other' Miller 1999, p. 31 Demonstrative pronouns distinguish between animate and inanimate, and two degrees of distance.They are inflected for number and gender or class.
Cubeo yes proximate and distal for animate referents Morse & Maxwell 1999, p. 83 distal and proximate plus ananphoric for inanimate referents
Kotiria 0 Stenzel 2004, p. 184
Makuna yes 3 for inaminates (dist., prox., med.) and 2 for animates (dist., prox.) Smothermon & Smothermon 1993, p.35
Koreguaje yes 3, 'this' (near speaker), 'that' (a short distinction), 'that' (present but not visible, or someone mentioned above) Cook & Criswell 1993, p.32 The same demonstration was used to refer to nouns conretos that have already been named in a previous sentence (keep a classifier suffix to these.)
Barasano 3 The pronouns for animate referents distinguish two degrees of distance- proximate and distal; those for inanimate have an additional medial degree of distance. Jones & Jones 1991, p.32
Tanimuca 2 Strom 1992, p.52 The locative pronouns 'here' and 'there'
Siona 1 Near, distant definite; indefinite. Wheeler - 1987:134
Tukano 2 West and Welch 2004: 98-99
Yanomami yes, 3 Ramirez 1994: 210
Ninam yes, 3 Goodwin-Gomez, p.56-57
Sanumá yes, 3 Borgman 1990: p.151
Surui 3 Van der Meer (?):12
Karitiana 2 Everett 2006:313-15
Nheengatu 2 proximal - distal Cruz 2011:146
Paraguayan Guaraní 2 Ayala 1996:29-31
Aché no info
Kokama 2 proximate/non-proximate Vallejos 2010:214
Nyangumarta yes 1
Jingulu yes 1
Wambaya yes 1
Bunuba yes 1
Walmajarri no info x
Nyulnyul yes 1
Warrwa yes 1
Worrorra yes 56 1
Garrwa yes fpro15 1
Gooniyandi yes 1
Warlpiri yes n34 1
Bardi yes 1
Yugambeh
Yorta Yorta yes 74 1
Yir Yoront
Yindjibarndi no info 71-73 x
Yidiny yes 1
Yanyuwa yes 7 1
Yandruwandha yes 94 1
Yan-nhangu
Yalarnnga yes 16 1
Woiwurrung yes 103 1
Wirangu yes 90 1
Wemba-Wemba yes H 39 1
Warumungu yes 31 1
Wangkumara no info X
Uradhi Yes 357 1
Paakantyi yes 118-121 1
Pitta-Pitta yes 194 1
Pintupi yes 105 1
Nyungar no info x
Nhanta yes 72 1
Ngiyambaa yes 128, 135 1
Ngayawang yes 11 1
Muruwari yes 84 1
Mpakwithi
Mayi-Yapi yes 52 1
Martuthunira yes 110 1
Marrgany yes 305 1
Kuuk Thaayorre Yes 255 1
Kuku Yalanji yes 83 1
Kugu-Nganhcara yes 395 1
Kaurna yes 9 1
Kalkatungu yes 34, 41b 1
Jaru yes 61, 75 1
Guugu-Yimidhirr yes 72 1
Gureng Gureng no info x
Gupapuyngu
Gumbaynggirr yes 274, 324 1
Gugu-Badhun yes 1
Yuwaalaraay Yes 92 1
Dyirbal yes 46-48 1
Duungidjawu yes 56, 58-59 1
Djinang Yes 38 1
Djabugay
Diyari yes 60 1
Dharuk
Dharawal yes 60 1
Darkinyung yes 24-25 1
Bularnu no 56 0
Biri yes 28-9 1
Bidjara-Gungabula yes 84 1
Batyala no info x
Arabana yes 120, 122 1
Alyawarr yes 110 1
Nyikina yes 1
Yawuru
Ngarinyin
Yulparija Yes 31 1
Wathawurrung yes 144 1
Mathi-Mathi yes 92-95 1
Hunter River and Lake Macquarie yes 35-37 1
Thanggati yes 31 1
Katthang yes 50 1
Panyjima yes 161 1
Ngarinyeri yes 30 1
Kurrama yes 92 1
Yingkarta yes 1
Githabul yes 17 1
Gunya yes 305 1
Kunjen yes 49 1
WesternTorres yes FO 124 1
Wakaya yes 155 1
Yindjilindji yes 509 1
Bandjalang yes 70 1
Ngaatjatjara yes 25 1
Arrernte Yes 90 1
Kokatha Yes 50, 60 1
Karajarri Yes 252 1
Pitjantjatjara Yes G 104 1
Ritharrngu Yes 49 1
Warrgamay Yes 44 1
Warluwarra yes 879 1
Warnman Yes 40 1
Djapu yes 2 1
Bilinarra yes 4.2 1
Wiradjuri yes 42 1
Aghu-Tharnggala No info 67 x
Narungga Yes 56 1
Tharrkari Yes 16 1
Wajarri Yes 81 1
Warungu yes 173 1
Adnyamathanha
Yagua 2 this' and 'that' Payne and Payne 1990
Baniwa 4 Ramirez 2001