En réponse à Dzheph Uatzon <AZ1980jjw@...>:
>
> Attic Greek, in which the copula is optional in the present tense (as
> in
> russian, I gather), puts the possesee in the nominative case and the
> possesor
> in the dative, i.e.:
> Emoi bios ti (esti)
> me(dat) life a (is).
> "I have a life"
>
As does Latin: Mihi est vita (except that here the copula is mandatory). Note
still that the order is inversed from a normal sentence (where we would have:
vita est...). I looks a little like that too in Attic Greek. I wounder if it's
universal to put first the possessor in possessing clauses.
>
> Irish Gaelic (VSO) uses a copula and preceeds the possessor by the
> preposition "at" (which is inflected for person):
> Ta an sciann agam
> Is the knife at-me
> "I have the knife"
>
Well, so long for my universal :( .
>
> Your honored 1st time poster,
> Jeff Watson
>
First time? then welcome!
Christophe.
http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr