In this paper we will investigate the meaning and use of positional verbs in colloquial Standard German. Positional verbs are defined as those verbs which may appear in the basic construction that functions as an answer to a ''where''-question, the so-called Basic Locative Construction (BLC). Within this class of verbs, we focus on those positionals which are used to describe the configuration of inanimate movable objects. We will demonstrate that German exhibits the characteristics of a positional (or ''multiverb'') language, i.e., a language that uses a comparatively large set of verbs in the BLC. The ten positionals used most frequently in our data are stehen 'stand', liegen 'lie', hängen 'hang', lehnen 'lean', stecken 'be in tight fit, be stuck', klemmen 'be stuck, be jammed', kleben 'stick by means of glue', haften 'adhere', schwimmen 'be afloat in liquid', and schweben 'be afloat'. We will identify the conditions under which the positional verbs are used and provide a semantic characterization for each of them, paying particular attention to alternative categorizations, fuzzy boundaries and prototype e¤ects.

This paper deals with morphosyntactic and semantic characteristics of the spatial case called motative in the Ardeşen-variety of Laz. The motative can be used to mark the ground-nominal in allative as well as in ablative spatial expressions, while the ground-nominal in static spatial expressions is unmarked for case.Hence, the motative case shows a conflation of the allative with ablative spatial semantics, while at the same time excluding locative spatial meaning. Given that this kind of syncretism has been claimed to be nonexistent, the findings for Ardeşen-Laz are of special relevance for the refinement of the typology on spatial case-systems.

This paper gives an overview of the means of expression which are used in descriptions of spatial scenes in Laz. With motion verbs, Laz uses the satellite-framed strategy with motionmanner conflation in the verbal root. Path information is given in preverbal satellites. With respect to locative expressions it belongs to the multi-verb-type languages. Hence, considering the lexical properties of the verb roots, Laz is a rather ordinary language. However, with respect to the semantics of its spatial case system and the semantics of the satellites, i.e. its system of spatial preverbs, it will be shown that Laz is typologically rather unusual.

The paper deals with the iconic and indexical relations of lexical signs in German Sign Language (DGS

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