This paper deals with the expression of space in linguistic typology, more specifically with Path encoding. The term ''Path'' refers to the path followed by an entity with respect to another: for instance, in a scene where a cat runs and a table stands, Path will refer to the cat running past the table, below the table, down from the table, etc. The literature on how Path is encoded in different languages is abundant. This paper is not an exhaustive state-of-the-art review of the literature. It rather intends to guide the reader through major recent landmarks that would help one understand how typological generalizations about Path expression have been attained, what are such generalizations and how part of them still constitute an issue.Language and Linguistics Compass 6/4 (2012):

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In lieu of an abstract, here is an excerpt:This paper addresses a selection of languages which exhibits morphosyntactic structures that formally have little in common: Burmese and Arakanese (Tibeto-Burmese), Popti’ (Mayan), Homeric Greek (Indo-European) and Mandarin Chinese (Sinitic). However, they all seem to organize the surface order of their Path-encoding elements according to two conceptual distinctions: (a) the Axiality or non-Axiality of Path, and (b) Deixis.

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Revue de linguistique et de didactique des langues 46 | 2012