Marquesan

The present volume is an in-depth study of the verbal forms and means of spatial reference and the conception of space in a Polynesian language. The empirical analysis is focused around the semantics and morphosyntax of all relevant locative constructions and grammatical units used for spatial reference. Remarkable for Marquesan is that its speakers use a spatial orientation system which is based on local landmarks of the environment to describe spatial relations even on a micro-level space. It also contains a detailed grammatical sketch of Marquesan providing the reader with a general insight into one of the not well documented and endangered Oceanic languages.