niíkuma path, understood as the trajectory along which one moves. This [...]

• • path, understood as the trajectory along which one moves. This may be a well-defined, cleared path through the forest, or a path over a relatively open surface, such as a beach

  Grammar Note

  The default form of this locative noun, <niíkuma>, is largely bleached of locative semantics in its common use. Locatively inflected forms include <niíku-ma>, <niíku-ku>, and <niiku-kúura>, where the locative suffix reflects the orientation of the trajectory of movement with respect to the deictic center. If the path is the ground in a figure-ground relationship, the use of this root is only felicitous if the figure is moving along the path; in all other cases, e.g., if the figure is stationary on the path, or is crossing it, the root <amakɨ> must be used instead; that is, <niíkuma> contrasts with the similarly glossed <amakɨ> in that the latter denotes the cleared spatial region which constitutes the path, while the former denotes a directed path trajectory

  • • Example 707:
      

      Káami k=iíkwaakura niíkuku.

      I went upriver along the path.

    • Example 708:
      

      Ki=maákata apárakuraaná mɨyɨkɨ́ɨni=jina niíkuma nɨtɨ́ɨni=jata, inárɨɨja.

      My father began to return along the path, running scared.