Prelativ

Prelativ is a term used in linguistic typology to describe a grammatical case that marks origin or starting point in a sentence. The concept is discussed mainly in the context of languages with rich case systems, where it is considered distinct from other source-related cases such as ablative or elative, though its precise status varies across descriptions. In descriptions that posit a prelativ, the marking can appear as a suffix attached to a noun, as a separate postposed particle, or as a clitic, and it may interact with noun class, number, or animacy.

Function and scope: The core function attributed to prelativ is to indicate the source or starting point of an action, movement, or state. This can be spatial (from a place), temporal (from a point in time), or more abstract (from a basis, cause, or origin of a phenomenon). In some accounts, prelativ coexists with other case markings and requires the noun to be marked for agreement in certain features. The exact semantic boundaries—how it differs from related cases and in which contexts it is licensed—vary by language description.

Attestation and status: Prelativ is not widely attested as a universally recognized grammatical category. In many grammars it appears as a regional or historical label for a source-related function that some analysts treat as an extension of existing cases like the ablative or translative, rather than as a separate case in its own right. Because evidence is limited and descriptions differ, the status of prelativ remains a topic of ongoing discussion among linguists.

See also: Ablative, Elative, Translative, Prepositional case, Finno-Ugric language grammars.