Publication Date:
2020
abstract:
Two external possessor constructions occur in ancient Indo-European languages: the
dative external possessor construction, and the double case construction. They both
indicate adnominal possession by means of syntactically independent NPs, and basically refer to inalienable possession. In this article, I analyze the two constructions,
describe their meaning and their syntactic properties, and review the comparative
evidence for each of them. Neither construction is uniformly attested throughout the
Indo-European language family. In addition, the dative external possessor construction seems to be quite unstable over time. Based on the data presented, I conclude
that the former can be reconstructed as an original Proto-Indo-European construction, while the latter must be regarded as a language specific construction, with different properties in the languages in which it occurs.
dative external possessor construction, and the double case construction. They both
indicate adnominal possession by means of syntactically independent NPs, and basically refer to inalienable possession. In this article, I analyze the two constructions,
describe their meaning and their syntactic properties, and review the comparative
evidence for each of them. Neither construction is uniformly attested throughout the
Indo-European language family. In addition, the dative external possessor construction seems to be quite unstable over time. Based on the data presented, I conclude
that the former can be reconstructed as an original Proto-Indo-European construction, while the latter must be regarded as a language specific construction, with different properties in the languages in which it occurs.
Iris type:
2.1 Contributo in volume (Capitolo o Saggio)
Keywords:
Possession, possessive pronouns, external possessor, Indo-European languages
List of contributors:
Luraghi, Silvia
Book title:
Reconstructing Syntax