Re: Types of possession

On 12/19/05, Jefferson Wilson <jeffwilson63@...> wrote:
> John Quijada wrote:
> > I guess I'm too late to add to the fray,
>
> Not at all.  While I've defined the basic types of possession, I
> haven't worked on the more complex forms, and this list will be
> very useful.
I've recently thought of a system that's much simpler than
that of gjâ-zym-byn or Ithkuil, but more specific than the vague
Indo-European genitive. There are three genitive cases or adpositions:

1. equal (or coordinate) association
2. subordinate, inferior association
3. superordinate, superior association

The first would be used for most interpersonal relationships,
with the exception of parent/minor child and minor child/parent,
& possibly employer/employee, etc.

The second, for associating a part with its whole, a creation
with its creator, a possession with its owner, etc.

The third, for the inverse relations of those in the second set:
e.g. an artist with his works, a society with its members,
and so forth.

E.g.,
man-GEN1 wife = the man's wife
citizen-GEN2 country = the citizen's country
finger-GEN2 hand = the hand the finger is part of
Heinlein-GEN3 novels = Heinlein's novels
elephant-GEN3 trunk = the elephant's trunk

The second could be used as an objective genitive
with verbal nouns, and the third as a subjective genitive
with verbal nouns.

man-GEN2 rescue = the rescue by others of the man in danger
man-GEN3 rescue = the rescue performed by the man of someone in danger

How else might the various distinctions made in gzb
or Ithkuil or other languages with a split genitive be
rendered in a system like this?

--
Jim Henry
http://www.pobox.com/~jimhenry
...Mind the gmail Reply-to: field