Categorizing adpositions in Kˆıˆıtharaka

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the categorial status of Kˆıˆıtharaka adpositions. I demonstrate that there are two main classes of adpositions (to be referred to as Class A and Class B). Class A adpositions are syntactic heads and they belong to the functional category P. Class B adpositions are a phrasal P category with a nominal component. They therefore spell out a more complex structure than adpositional heads do. This bipartition of Kˆıˆıtharaka Ps is based on (i) optionality of complements, (ii) case assignment, (iii) modification, (iv) recoverability of content, (v) movement, and (vi) derivational morphology.