전치소유구문의 화제성

The Topicality of Possessor Nominals

This study investigate the properties of the pronominal possessives with reference to Langacker’s reference point analysis. On the reference point analysis, the pronominal possessive constructions invite the addressee to first evoke the possessor entity, which is introduced to serve as a reference point entity for the subsequent identification of the target entity, denoted by the possessee. That is, the possessor is invoked to facilitate identification of the possessee, so the possessor needs to be more easily accessible, and to show higher topicality, than the possessee. There are, I suggest, two factors that are likely to render a concept cognitively accessible. In the first place, a concept is rendered accessible by the discourser context in which it occurs. This is referred to as givenness. Second, certain concepts, by their very nature, are inherently more accessible than other concepts, irrespective of discourse context. This aspect is referred to as humanness. The givenness and humanness of possessor nominals are confirmed in a quantitative study. The following are the conclusions concerning possessor nominals. a) Possessor nominals refer to entities mentioned in recently preceding text. b) Discourse topics tend to be amongst the preferred referents of possessor nominals. c) Possessor nominals are overwhelmingly definite. d) Pronominal forms are frequent. e) Human possessors are served as a reference point for inanimate possessees.