Demonstratives

For a definition of preposition see the page Demonstratives (definition)

Demonstratives in Gaelic can occur in Pronomial, Adjectival, and Adverbial forms. An interesting feature of Demonstratives in Gaelic, is that they can be used to indicate spatial as well as temporal distance. Furthermore, they can occur in both a transitive and intransitive forms, and can take a tense particle.

Inventory

	Pronoun	Adj	ADVmovement	ADVlocation	English
Proximate	seo	seo	an-seo	an-sheo	this
Distal	sin	sin	an-sin	an-shin	that
Far Distal	siud	ud	an-siud	an-shiud	yonder

Spatial and Temporal Distance

Scottish Gaelic marks demonstratives in reference to distance from the speaker in three degrees:

(i) proximate - 'here'
(ii) distal - 'there'
(iii) far distal - 'yonder'

Demonstratives can be used to indicate distance in an abstract, temporal manner. When the 2nd degree 'sin' is used in reference to come temporal concept ("an latha sin" 'that day') it is meant to indicate that there is some day in the future that is being discussed, and that the day is specific. Whereas if the speaker uses the 3rd degree 'ud' in reference to a day in the future ("an latha ud" 'some day (in the future)') it is meant that the day is hypothetical.

Furthermore, the Far Distal demonstrative adjective (ud) is used to describe a noun which refers to an entity which is out of sight for both the speaker and the listener.

The 2nd degree demonstrative adjective (sin), on the other hand, marks the noun in question as being something far away but within sight.

Demonstrative Adverbs of Movement and Location

Demonstrative Adverbs contrast between movement and Location

Movement - an-sin - 'We went there'

Location - an-shin - 'We were there'

Transitivity

Demonstratives in Gaelic, just like those found in other languages, can be used in two different ways: transitively or intransitively. Intransitive demonstratives are used on their own without any other elements such as in example (1). Transitive demonstratives, on the other hand, are always collocated with a noun as demonstrated in example (2).

1) this is mine

2) this book is mine

Transitive demonstratives in Gaelic are created by combining an article, a noun, and a demonstrative particle, in that order. There are three demonstrative particles: seo proximate (this), sin distal (that), siud or 'ud or siud far distal (yonder).

3)

an	cù	seo
the	dog	this
'this dog'

4)

an	cù	sin
the	dog	that
'that dog'

5)

an	cù	'ud/siud
the	dog	yonder
'yonder dog'

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the adjective comes before the demonstrative particle:

6)

an	cù	mòr	seo
the	dog	big	this
'this big dog'

Intransitive demonstratives in Gaelic do not need any other elements such as an article and a noun.

7)

Thoir	dhomh	seo
give	to.me	this
'Give me this'

8)

Thoir	dhomh	sin
give	to.me	that
'Give me that'

Tense

The pairing of tense and demonstratives results in the function which introduces referents which play a role in the following discourse. (Lamb)

Distribution

Demonstrative Pronouns - distribute like common nouns, but unlike pronouns they do not combine with prepositions
Demonstrative Adjectives - distribute like other adjectives such that they follow the noun they modify
Demonstrative Adverbs - distribute like adverbs (?)

References

• Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. 2nd edition. Munich: Lingcom Europa