THERE are LOCATIVE words that are closely associated with EXISTENTIAL words, and are often used interchangeably with them. As mentioned previously, Hiligaynon speakers (and most other Visayans) usually prefer the EXISTENTIALs over the LOCATIVEs.
The Hiligaynon DIRI: located here.
DIRI ang bata. – The child is (located) here.
DIRI siya. – He is (located) here.
DIRI sila. – They are (located) here.
EXISTENTIALs can be used in conjunction with LOCATIVEs. In the case of the locative DIRI it can be used with the existential ARI and ARA.
ARI na DIRI ang bata. – The child is already here.
ARA na DIRI ang bata. – The child is already here.
One can use both the EXISTENTIAL and the LOCATIVE independently, as in the sentences ‘ARI na siya’ and ‘DIRI na siya’. By using both, emphasis is lent to the idea that person or thing referred to is present near the speaker.
Note: Tagalog can’t use EXISTENTIALs in conjunction with LOCATIVEs because there are no appropriate EXISTENTIALs.
The Tagalog equivalents would be.
NAnDito / DITO) ang bata. – The child is (located) here.
NAnDito / DITO siya. – He is (located) here.
NAnDito /DITO sila. – They are (located) here.
Tagalog has no choice but to use the LOCATIVE NAnDito / DITO. In addition, Tagalog can’t use an EXISTENTIAL in conjunction with the LOCATIVE DITO because there are no appropriate EXISTENTIALs.
Hiligaynon speakers have the option to use either the EXISTENTIAL ARI or the LOCATIVE DIRI, but usually prefer the existential (which is ARI). For instance, instead of ‘DIRI ang bata’, Hiligaynon speakers prefer ‘ARI ang bata’. Or for emphasis, Hiligaynon speakers can use the EXISTENTIAL in conjunction with the LOCATIVE, as in the example above – ‘ARI na DIRI ang bata’.
The Hiligaynon DIRA: LOCATED away from me but near where you are.
DIRa ang bata. – The child is (located) there.
DIRa siya. – He is (located) there.
DIRa sila. – They are (located) there.
EXISTENTIALs can be used in conjunction with LOCATIVEs as previously mentioned. In the case of the locative DIRa it can be used with the existential ARA.
ARA na DIRa siya. – She is already there.
One can use both the EXISTENTIAL and the LOCATIVE independently, as in the sentences ‘ARA na siya’ and ‘DIRa na siya’. By using both, emphasis is lent to the idea that person or thing referred to is present far from the speaker but near the person being spoken to.
The Tagalog equivalents would be:
NAnDiYAN / DiYAN ang bata. – The child is (located) there.
NAnDiYAN / DiYAN siya. – He is (located) there.
NAnDiYAN / DiYAN sila. – They are (located) there.
Tagalog has no choice but to use the LOCATIVE NAnDiYAN / DiYAN.
In addition, Tagalog can’t use an EXISTENTIAL in conjunction with the LOCATIVE DiYAN because there are no appropriate EXISTENTIALs. (To be continued)/PN
