The coding of possessive source in the languages of Europe

Abstract

The paper deals with the coding of the Possessive Source (the Source argument of the verb ‘to take’) in the 39 languages of Europe. I mainly used primary sources of data, such as elicitation. The most common way of the coding of the Possessive Source in my sample was the ablative coding, by which I mean the typical coding of the Source argument of motion verbs (cf. Peter has returned from his boss / from London). The ablative meaning itself can be coded in different ways, depending on the specific location: it can be apudelative, superelative, inelative, etc. The synсretic marking of the Possessive Source and the Source of motion verbs can be explained by their semantic similarity. The other common way of coding of the Possessive Source is the recipient coding, by which I mean the coding of the second animate argument of the verb ‘to give’. The Recipient and the Possessive Source have the same benefactive / malefactive properties prompting their syncretic marking. By locative coding I mean the coding of the location near the Landmark (cf. to stand by the river, to be at one’s friend’s). This type of coding is typical of East Slavic languages, Italian and some dialects of Norwegian. The synсretic marking of locative and source meaning has been previously attested for non-possessive (inanimate) Sources. The other types of the coding of the Possessive Source can be considered marginal for Europe. The data of the study in question has been presented as a semantic map.