Case forms as exponents of possesion in English and Polish

Abstract

There is a controversy among linguists concerning the definability of the notion of possession. Some linguists (e. g. Bendix, 1966) claim that it is elementary and undefinable. In this paper the opposite view will be adopted, following the suggestions made by Wierzbicka (1969: 71). Possession will be regarded as one’s (the „possessor’s”) exclusive right to do whatever he wants to/with a given object (the „possessed thing”), this right being given and respected by society. The notion of possession implies therefore potentiality, i. e. some physical ability guaranteed by social conventions...