Note sul possessivo latino suus. Radici classiche del cambiamento funzionale

In the paper we deal with the development of Latin possessive suus and with changes in use of the possessive from Latin to Italian. Citing examples from the Latin classical literature we demonstrate the inconsistencies and weaknesses of the grammar system that led to incoherent use of the linguistic forms and to consequent changes in the system itself. By analyzing sentences chosen mostly Caesar’s works we reached the conclusion that in Latin had not existed specialized pronominal forms employed exclusively in the oratio obliqua structures. Suus, se, sibi were used in order to establish referential identity of different elements which resulted in co-occurrence of identical forms that pointed to completely different referents. The evolution of the language in the 6th century abolished the difference between reflexive and pronominal form (classical Latin suus and eius). Such shift was a result of the incoherent employment of those forms in the oratio obliqua. At first, that usage was context-depending, then it was extended to become general and normative, which led to disappearing of the diversification between reflexive and pronominal forms