« Construction directe » vs « construction indirecte » :quelle interprétation sémantique dans la relation de possession en bété ?

Abstract

This paper provides a description of semantic values of bete language which characterized a phrasal opposition very widespread in Africa and which has been studied for decades i.e. direct vs. indirect nominal determination. Some studies have focused on looking for a unique semantic feature whose presence or absence would determine which of two competing genitive constructions to choose : the “direct” construction which would refer to disposable possession and the “indirect” possession which would refer to alienable possession. The present article has two objectives : it first aims at showing that the dichotomy between ’inalienable possession’ and ’disposable possession’ can be expressed elsewhere than in the genitive phrase ; it also suggests to depart from the idea, in the study of the possessive relationship in African languages, that one should look for a unique semantic feature that would help predict the different genitive phrase constructions.

Keywords

• possession
• alienability
• relationship between process and social norm
• relationship between process and possessor.