The antessive case (abbreviated ANTE) is used for marking the spatial relation of preceding or being before. The case is found in some Dravidian languages. For example, in Tamil, the antessive case has three primary meanings.
- In front of something or someone
Eṅkaḷ
1PL.GEN
vīṭṭiṟku
home
muṉṉāl
ANTE
oru
INDEF
kōyil
temple
irukkiṟatu
EXIST
Eṅkaḷ vīṭṭiṟku muṉṉāl oru kōyil irukkiṟatu
1PL.GEN home ANTE INDEF temple EXIST
There is a temple in front of our home
- To present someone or something in front of someone or something
Tir-uṭaṉ
thief-SOC
nītipati-kku
judge-DAT
muṉṉāl
ANTE
koṇṭu
INS
varappa-ṭṭ-aṉ
come-PST-3SG.MASC
Tir-uṭaṉ nītipati-kku muṉṉāl koṇṭu varappa-ṭṭ-aṉ
thief-SOC judge-DAT ANTE INS come-PST-3SG.MASC
The thief was brought before the judge
- Being 'at front' with reference to position
Avaṉ
3SG
eḻutuvatil
write-DEF-LOC
ellā:ru-kkum
everyone-DAT
muṉṉa:L
ANTE
iruk-kiṟ-āṉ
EXIST-PRES-3SG.MASC
Avaṉ eḻutuvatil ellā:ru-kkum muṉṉa:L iruk-kiṟ-āṉ
3SG write-DEF-LOC everyone-DAT ANTE EXIST-PRES-3SG.MASC
He is in front of all in writing
References
- S. Agesthialingom, Prakya Sreesaila Subrahmanyam, Dravidian Linguistics- V: (proceedings of the Seminar on Dravidian Linguistics- V), Page 275, 1976 - 582 pages, Google book search link quote: "(6) 'before' (antessive), (7) 'behind, ..."
- Aneja, M. P.; Rajendran, S. (1980). "Case Relations and Realizations in Hindi and Tamil". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 39: 1–26. ISSN 0045-9801.
SOC:sociative aspect
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