inalienable possession

        I just wanted to add a remark to my yesterday's post. I forgot to
say that in PL, the genitive (that's to say inalienable possession) can be
used only with animate (I'm talking of the gender) and pseudo-animate
(things that can move on their own without being alive, like planets, fire
or earthquakes) beings. I think there are some exceptions, but they must be
very few (in fact it's an idea I've just had when I began writing this post.
I don't know if it will lead to anything).
        It's near the same distinction that occurs between the ergative and
the nominative: the ergative can be used only with animates, the nominative
for unvolitional (very useful your word, Sally) animates and for every kind
of inanimates.

                                                Christophe Grandsire
                                                |Sela Jemufan Atlinan C.G.

"R=E9sister ou servir"

homepage: http://www.bde.espci.fr/homepage/Christophe.Grandsire/index.html