Author: Iliana Krapova
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Published in Slavyanski dialozi, XX, 2023, 32.
Abstract: In this paper, I discuss some prominent features of the Bulgarian external possessors and I argue that the construction is highly grammaticalized because of the NP-internal possessive clitics. I also propose two alternative mechanisms to derive the pronominal external possessor as a sentential constituent on the basis of the semantic properties of the predicate and the functions of the possessive clitic as signaling a benefactive/malefactive dative or a purely possessive function. Implicit in the argumentation is the comparison with the European languages where this construction is considerably more limited in scope and functions.
Key words: possessive, dative, external possession, Bulgarian