Antessive case

The antessive case (abbreviated ANTE)^[1] 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.^[2]

In front of something or someone

Eṅkaḷ

1PL.GEN

vīṭṭiṟku

home

muṉṉāl

ANTE

oru

INDEF

kōyil

temple

irukkiṟatu

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

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

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.

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[1] 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, ..."

[2] 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.

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