Semantic properties of prepositions

Abstract

In Biblical Hebrew, both min ‘from’ and be ‘in’ are used to mark causing arguments (Agents, Instruments, Reasons, …). Reference works list the thematic roles each preposition can mark, but do not address the differences between the two. We argue that the contrast is one of ‘dominance’: min-causers are more dominant than be-causers. They can fully determine the effect, whereas the effect of a be-causer can be altered or prevented. This distinction derives from the spatial meanings of these prepositions based on an abstract spatial representation of the causal domain. The object of min is a Source or Origin, which is interpreted as being the instigator of a causal chain, and thus having dominance over that chain from instigation to effect. By contrast, the Locative preposition be describes a location close to a Ground, which is interpreted as being able to cause an effect, but not necessarily in a dominant way.