Spatial Relations
Hîsyêô uses a mix of specific prepositions for radial relationships (In/On) and a locative noun construction for relative positions (Front/Back/Top/Bottom).
This system is governed by the Radial Growth Metaphor: just as a tree grows outward, Hîsyêô speakers perceive "Inside" as the past/origin and "On/Surface" as the future/destination.
Radial Prepositions (Space & Time)
These two prepositions handle the fundamental relationship of containment and sequence. They replace the English concepts of "In" and "On" while simultaneously handling "Before" and "After."
| Preposition | Spatial Meaning | Temporal Meaning | Metaphor |
|---|---|---|---|
| ilik | In / Inside | Before / Preceding | The Core / The Memory |
| cihôû | On / Upon | After / Succeeding | The Bark / The Growth |
Examples in Space:
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Examples in Time:
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Because Hîsyêô views time as growth (like tree rings or layers of sediment) rather than a straight line, we avoid linear adjectives like "long" or "short" when talking about duration. Instead, we use words describing volume, thickness, and depth.
| Concept | Linear Metaphor (Avoid) | Radial Metaphor (Use) | Hîsyêô Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Duration | "A long time" | A thick time | côt |
| Short Duration | "A short time" | A thin time | cencî |
| Distant Past/Future | "Far away" | Deep | zîlyoîs |
| Near Past/Future | "Close" | Shallow | dohîl |
| Timeline | "Line" | Ring/Circle | wutun wokût |
Examples:
Locative Nucleus Construction
For specific physical orientations that are not strictly "In" or "On," Hîsyêô uses the generic preposition hoî (At) combined with a "Position Word" acting as the nucleus.
Formula:
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Position Words
While these words may belong to other word classes (such as modifiers or verbs), when placed in this specific syntactic slot, they function as the nucleus of the phrase to define location.
| English | Hîsyêô | Usage Example | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front / Anterior | fôhon | hoî fôhon yê nîmû | At the front of you |
| Back / Posterior | soden | hoî soden yê nîmû | At the back of you |
| Top / Summit | solwôc | hoî solwôc yê niwos | At the top of the house |
| Bottom / Base | tûndû | hoî tûndû yê niwos | At the bottom of the house |
| High / Above | cên | hoî cên yê niwos | At the high-point of the house |
| Low / Below | sêl | hoî sêl yê niwos | At the low-point of the house |
| Inside / Interior | lîmîen | hoî lîmîen yê dibo | At the inside of the box |
| Outside / Exterior | wokto | hoî wokto yê dibo | At the outside of the box |
| Side / Flank | sôbo | hoî sôbo yê oûtô | At the side of the car |
Additional Examples
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
The cat is under the table. mocko ( li gô) hoî tûndû yê mîêbil. (The cat is located at the bottom of the table.)
Wait inside the car. kûu motsi ilik oûtô. (Wait at the interior of the car.)
He stood in front of me. nîo li totsi hoî fôhon yê noyo. (He stood at the front of me.)