This paper examines the differences between locative expressions in Kpelle and English, based on the dialect of one native speaker of Kpelle. It discusses the crucial role of the reference object in defining the meaning of locatives in Kpelle, in contrast to English, where the characteristics of the object to be located are less important. An explanation for this asymmetry in Kpelle can be found in the fact that the locatives are actually nouns whose referent are regions of the reference object. From a broader perspective, a study of cross-linguistic variation in spatial language is a necessary step in describing the truly universal aspects of locative expressions. (MDM)