In this unit, we will study directionals, particles that denote from/to where actions take place. They appear after verbs to signal direction.
K’iche’ has a set of post-verbal directional particles which add a sense of trajectory in/from the event. This trajectory takes place with reference to the speaker or the deictic origo of the action. Deixis is a linguistic concept that has to do with context. Deictic origo refers to the perspective from which the event is talked about:
Directionals in K’iche’:| la/ (u)loq | from there to origo |
| b’i(k) | away from origo |
| kan(oq) | origo has moved away from scene; time reference: past |
| apan(oq) | refers to movement between speaker and a place nearby |
| aq’an(oq) | movement upward; time reference: future |
| qaj(oq) | movement down, vertical movement |
| koq/ka | towards inside; horizontal movement on eye-level |
“The workers” are the subject in this phrase. However, the directional kan reveals that the action is talked about from a perspective removed from the place of the action.
The directionals can often be translated as (MAIN VERB ACTION) + “and then he goes away or out/come here/leave behind/goes up/goes down/goes in”
Some directionals change forms according to phonological environment; directionals have phrase-medial and phrase-final forms, and sometimes merge with other particles. Sometimes they give a specific meaning to a verb; for example:
k’am+ b’ik “take away (there)”
k’am + uloq “bring (here)”
la/ (u)loq This form is used when action occurs towards the speaker’s spatial location. When (u)loq is not utterance final, it takes the form la. Uloq loses its first vowel when the preceding word ends in a vowel or vowel-like sound.
1.Le achi xka’y loq. The man looked in this direction (towards the speaker). 2.Iwir xintzalij uloq. I returned (here) yesterday. 3.We k’o arajil chak’ama loq. If you have money, bring it here.Note that what distinguishes ‘take away’ from ‘bring’ in K’iche’, is the directional accompanying the verb –k’am:
–k’am:+ b’ik “take away (there)”
–k’am:+ uloq “bring (here)”
4.We k’o arajil, chak’ama la chwe’q. If you have any money, bring it tomorrow. 5.Iwir xujtzalij la pa k’ayb’al. Yesterday we returned (here) from the market. (u)loq combines with other adverbs or pronouns, changing sometimes its phonological shape:| With na: later, afterwards (this adds a sense of “future”) |
| Na + (u)loq > nu’loq |
| Na + la > nu’la |
| With la you (formal) |
| la + loq > lu’loq |
| la + la > lu’la |
| With wi trace |
| wi + loq > wu’loq |
| wi + la > wu’la |
| With chi again |
| chi + loq > chu’loq |
| chi+la> chu’la |
| With na…taj negators |
| Na…taj + loq > Na… tu’loq |
| Na…taj + la > Na…tu’la |
B’i(k) This form is used with actions involving movement away from the speaker’s spatial location or deictic origo. When not in clause-final position, b’ik takes the form b’i.
11.Le ali xel b’ik. The girl went out (away from here). 12.Le achijab’ xeq’ab’ar b’ik. The men got drunk (before going away from here). Contrast Ex. 12 with Ex. 13 and 14: 13.Xeq’ab’ar la le achijab’. The men got drunk (coming here). 14.Le achijab’ xe’q’ab’aroq. The men went away and got drunk (incorporated movement: unit 37). 15.Chak’ama b’ik! Take it away from here! 16.Le ali xel b’i pa ja. The girl went out away from the house (the speaker is in the house). 17.Xujch’ay b’ik. We were beaten away (from the house). B’i(k) combines with other adverbs or pronouns, changing sometimes its phonological shape:| With na later, afterwards |
| Na + b’ik > Nu’b’ik |
| Na + b’i > Nu’b’i |
| With la you (formal) |
| la + b’ik > lu’b’ik |
| la + b’i > lu’b’i |
| With wi trace |
| wi + b’ik > wu’b’ik |
| wi + b’i > wu’b’i |
| With chi again |
| chi + b’ik > chu’b’ik |
| chi + b’i > chu’b’i |
| With na…taj negators |
| na…taj + b’ik > na…tu’b’ik |
| na…taj + b’i > na…tu’b’i |
Kan(oq) This form is used to indicate that the speaker/subject has moved away from the event location. Kanoq is found in phrase-final position and kan elsewhere.
23.Xekanaj kan le ajchakib’. The workers remained behind. 24.Xinya kan le nuchim pa k’ayb’al. I left my bag in the market. 25.Na xpe ta le qachi’il, xa warnaq kanoq. Our friend didn’t come, he remained behind sleeping. 26.Xqaya kanoq. We left it behind. 27.Le qatat xub’ij kanoq chi kape chi na. Our lord said before he left that he would come again later.Apan(oq) This form is used with actions involving movement between the speaker and a point in space located nearby. Alternatively, it may indicate that the narrative’s deictic origo is not the sentence subject’s position, but the speaker’s.
Xinch’aw apan ruk’ le wanab’. / Xinch’aw apanoq. I spoke with my sister (from here to there). / I spoke (from here to there).
28.Xinyoq’ apanoq rumal cher na utz ta xinwil le wachib’al “Apocalypto” ub’i’. I was kicked around because I did not like the movie Apocalypto. 29.Le al Ixkik’ kakowinik katz’ib’an apanoq, chuq kach’aw apanoq pa nik’aj chik tinamit. Ixkik’ can write and speak to (people in) other countries. 30.Xa b’a kaqil qib’ kojej aretaq chintzalij apan chwa ja. Hopefully, we will see each other in four days when I get back home.Aq’an(oq) This directional indicates movement upward. It can also refer to days into the future.
Kimb’e aq’an ruk’ le al Talin. / Kimb’e aq’anoq. I am going up there with Talin. / I am going up there.
Pa oxib’ q’ij aq’anoq, kimb’e ruk’ le nutat. In three days, I will go with my father.
Qaj(oq) This directional implies movement downward.
Xinxuli’ qaj pa le ja. / Xinxuli’ qajoq. I went down in/to the house (down stairs within the house, down from one house to another). / I went down.
Ka/Koq This directional indicates that the event is happening towards an “inside.”
31.Kimb’e na ka pa le wo’ch. I am just stepping inside my house (for a moment) 32.Kinka’y ka pa le wo’ch. I am peeking into the house (the understanding is that the head is stuck through the doorway/window ; movement of head is vertical on eye level).| sipaj (vtr) | to give (as a gift) |
| ka’y(ik) (vit) | to look |
| tzalij (vit) | to return |
| q’abar(ik) (vit) | to become drunk |
| wachib’al | movie, picture, painting, photograph |
Translate the following phrases into English:
- Qak’ama b’i le tz’i’. Xa kaqasipaj che le qachalal.
- Janipa chi ix qajnaq la waral pa tinamit?
- Karaj le achi kutij uwa chanim; chak’ama loq.
- La kaj la kab’e la quk’ pa muqunik?
- Xkanaj kan le achi je la’ pa taq’aj. Na xuq’i’ ta chik xpe quk’.
- Na xekowin ta le winaq xkik’am la le kalk’w’al waral pa kunaxik.
- Kachokon le laq chwe; utz kiya kanoq.
- Kutij nu’b’i le uwa le wachajil, k’a te k’u ri’ kab’e pa chak.
- Janipa kakowin la katzalij chi lu’loq?
- Na kujwa’ ta chik. Xtijtaj la qech chuwa ja.
- Kinch’aw apanoq ruk’ le numial aretaq chintzalij chwa wo’ch.
Answers
- Let’s take the dog. We are just going to give it to our relatives.
- How many times have you all already gone down from here to the town?
- The man wants to eat his food now; bring it to him.
- Do you want to go with us to the cemetery?
- The man stayed over there on the coast. No longer bored, he came with us.
- People cannot bring their children here to be healed.
- I will use (set out) the dishes, it is fine to leave them.
- My husband is going to eat his food. Afterwards, he will go to work.
- When can you come back here again?
- We’re not eating again. It was already eaten by us here in front of the house.
- I will talk to my daughter when she returns home.
- Do you (lal) want to take the dog away with you?
- I was not able to bring my friend here today.
- Leave (alaq) the dry ears of corn in the house.
- We will bring the marimba here tomorrow.
- Take care of yourself (lal) Diego (the speaker remains behind).
- It is necessary that the money be returned here to the owner.
- I am stepping into my house (for a moment).
Answers
- La kaj la kak’am la b’i le tz’i’?
- Na xinkowin taj xink’am la le wachi’il kamik.
- Kanaj alaq kan le jal pa ja.
- Kaqak’am la le q’ojom chwe’q.
- Chajij ib’ la b’i tat Tek.
- Rajawaxik katzalijsan le rajil che le rajaw.
- Kinok ka pa wo’ch.