Re: Possessible and non-possessible nouns

   Date:         Tue, 26 Jan 1999 18:47:20 -0200
   From: Gustavo Eulalio <guga@...>

           As I told before, I'm learning Tupi.
           I found out an interesting feature in it. It has possessible and
   non-possessible nouns. Explaining:
           Possessible nouns are the things or people "which make part of a
   whole, or are members of a relation system."
           Non-possessible nouns are mostly the elements of nature, or
   better, what is not seen as making part of a whole or who isn't member
   of a relation system.

The distinction is not unusual in natlangs. But I have more often seen
it called inalienable possesion (my hand --- it will always be mine)
and alienable possesion (my bike --- I can sell it). Also the case
where single important objects of alienable types can be used with
inalienable possesion.

Lars Mathiesen (U of Copenhagen CS Dep) <thorinn@...> (Humour NOT marked)