Variation in the system

In ST we also get some variation in the system that is determined by pragmatic considerations, as well as by meaning, function, and syntax, so there are additional problems here (Schiffman 1985).

For example, the postposition kitte (LT itam ) is usually described as a `locative' marker, that is, a marker of location used only with human subjects. This is because the regular locative case marker -le (LT -il ) cannot occur with human or animate noun phrases. However, when kitte does occur with human NP's, its meaning is not so much location in (or at or on ) as it is an expression of `in the presence of, in the possession of, near'.

#&&  # &1. &avan- & kitte &panam &irukku &`He has money' & &he &loc. &money &is &(i.e. on his person)

This contrasts with

#&&  # &2. & avan- &ukku &panam &irukku &`He has money' & & he &dat. &money &is &(i.e. he is wealthy)

In 1, the notion conveyed is temporary location, while 2, which is marked for dative, conveys the notion of permanent possession, a permanent or habitual state, and inalienable possession. kitte also substitutes for the locative in ablative expressions (`from' something) since the ablative in Tamil is made up of a locative case marker plus a postposition irundu. Certain semantically locative expressions that lack (or cannot take) locative case markers add irundu directly, as in

3. ange-y-rundu `from there'

4. meele-y-rundu `from above, from on top of'

and to express motion away from a person, (i)rundu is added to kitte instead of locative le:

5. viittu-le-rundu vandadu `it came from the house'

6. raam-kitte-rundu vandadu `it came from Ram'

What the grammars do not describe is that kitte is also used instead of dative case with certain verbs that ordinarily require the dative, or even, in some cases, the accusative. Such verbs as sollu `say', terivi `inform', keelu `ask', poo `go', and some others, such as sibaarisu pannu `recommend' and mannu poodu `apply' in actual usage are now more often found with kitte instead of dative or accusative because of the use of the latter seems to imply a directness and bluntness that is not deferential enough.

#&&  # & 7. avane keelu &`ask him (outright)' & &8. avan-kitte keelu &`ask him (nicely)' & & 9. enakku sonnaaru &`he told me outright' & & 10. en-kitte sonnaaru &`he broke the news to me gently, & &he told me in a nice way' & & 11. dairektar-kitte terivinga &`Please inform the Director' & & 12. dairektar-ukku terivinga &`Please tell the Director (and don't mince words).

Despite the difficulty of rendering the differences in these pairs with consistent English translations (having to resort to lexical variants of English verbs, etc.) it should be evident that what is expressed with kitte is a manner of operation that differs from the direct manner conveyed by the dative or accusative. This manner has little to do with politeness to the addressee or third person, since it makes no difference who the actor or agent or dramatis personae are--what kitte implies is that no matter who did what, it was done in a deferential manner. It can occur with or without normal politeness markers because it is not dealing with politeness as this is usually defined; thus there is a four-way variation possible here: with or without politeness, with or without deference.