Superlative readings of possessive constructions in Turkic
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Irina Nevskaya
Abstract
The article describes the superlative, hyperlative and elative use of formally possessive constructions in a number of Turkic languages from a comparative perspective, analyzing their structural and semantic types and pragmatic properties. Similar possessive superlative constructions are found all over Eurasia in languages belonging to various language families: they mostly express abstract (absolute) comparison of referred entities where their quantities are compared with a certain norm. One of the most unclear issues of possessive superlative constructions is their origin. They could have emerged as structural copies of corresponding Semitic Biblical expressions or as effect of language internal developments. The material of corresponding English and German non-canonical possessive constructions allows assuming that both factors have contributed to their emergence.
Abstract
The article describes the superlative, hyperlative and elative use of formally possessive constructions in a number of Turkic languages from a comparative perspective, analyzing their structural and semantic types and pragmatic properties. Similar possessive superlative constructions are found all over Eurasia in languages belonging to various language families: they mostly express abstract (absolute) comparison of referred entities where their quantities are compared with a certain norm. One of the most unclear issues of possessive superlative constructions is their origin. They could have emerged as structural copies of corresponding Semitic Biblical expressions or as effect of language internal developments. The material of corresponding English and German non-canonical possessive constructions allows assuming that both factors have contributed to their emergence.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Expressing ‘possession’ 7
- Predicative possession in revived Cornish 27
- Possessive chains and Possessor Camouflage 51
- On Turkish non-canonical possessives 85
- Predicative possession in South Saami 103
- Predicative possession in Oghuz and Kipchak Turkic languages 125
- Pronominal and adjectival attributive possession in spoken Czech 149
- Predicative possession in North Saami and Norwegian 169
- Possession and ownership in Modern Uyghur 187
- Superlative readings of possessive constructions in Turkic 205
- Possession in Khinalug 239
- A diachronic perspective on alienability splits in Icelandic attributive possession 267
- Grammaticalization of possessive markers in the Beserman dialect of Udmurt 291
- On belonging 313
- Competing possessive constructions in Late Latin documents from Italy 365
- Languages and language families and areas 393
- Name index 397
- Subject index 401
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Expressing ‘possession’ 7
- Predicative possession in revived Cornish 27
- Possessive chains and Possessor Camouflage 51
- On Turkish non-canonical possessives 85
- Predicative possession in South Saami 103
- Predicative possession in Oghuz and Kipchak Turkic languages 125
- Pronominal and adjectival attributive possession in spoken Czech 149
- Predicative possession in North Saami and Norwegian 169
- Possession and ownership in Modern Uyghur 187
- Superlative readings of possessive constructions in Turkic 205
- Possession in Khinalug 239
- A diachronic perspective on alienability splits in Icelandic attributive possession 267
- Grammaticalization of possessive markers in the Beserman dialect of Udmurt 291
- On belonging 313
- Competing possessive constructions in Late Latin documents from Italy 365
- Languages and language families and areas 393
- Name index 397
- Subject index 401
