Russian prepositions v and na

[E. Wayles Browne]

>        Dear Seelangers,
>
>        Who knows anything about a theory on spatial relations expressed
>        by the russian prepositions 'v' and 'na' that says:
>        'v' is used for buildings that are situated in the city (teatr)
>        'na' is used for buildings situated outside the city (zavod).
>
I find this generalization doubtful: the post office and the railway
station are commonly within the city, but one says na pochte, na
vokzale/na stancii. Monasteries are often in far-away places, but one
says v monastyre. Likewise for barns: v ambare.

Wayles Browne, Assoc. Prof. of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics
Morrill Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853, U.S.A.
tel. 607-255-0712 (o), 607-273-3009 (h)
fax 607-255-2044 (write FOR W. BROWNE)
e-mail ewb2 at cornell.edu