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ERIC ED285405: Reference Point Marking in Emai.

Semantic noun classes in Emai, an Edoid language of Nigeria, are examined with respect to a process of Reference Point Marking (RPM) in order to explore the relationship between discourse and lexical semantics. Across pre- and post-verbal positions subcategorized by verbs like "rere" ("to be far"), these classes are shown to attract RPM in a variable manner. To describe this variability, it proves useful to recognize a spatial stability continuum ranging across and within nouns of place and nonplace, as well as two constraints. For constructions combining place and nonplace nouns, RPM affects …