Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Something that came up on another topic brought this minor beef to mind. I didn't want to post it there, partly because I didn't want the poster to think I was finding fault with that point (which was perfectly valid) and partly because it probably deserves a thread of its own. It's just this: We sometimes hear complaints about the use of "my" and "mine" as though they indicate mere chattel possession, but it isn't true. "Mine" really means not "I own this"—necessarily, I mean—but "this is related to me in some way". Thus, it seems to me that complaining about phrases like "my mistress" (the complaint being that it refers to ownership) are misplaced.

"What", you may ask, "what else could it mean? Give me just one example—better, give me three counter-examples." Thank you, thank you very much—I'll give you two dozen: My job. My friend. My boss. My country. My favorite author. My book (not about the volume I own, but the novel I wrote). My house (if the bank really owns it). My home town. My religion, my pastor, my God, my church. My opinion. My school, my club, my talent, my body, my vices, my virtues, my show (as in "can't talk now, my show is on"). My appointment. My duty. My handwriting. My heart condition. My debt. My sister. My victory (and my loss). My chess game, tennis game, golf game etc, ie the way I play them. My memories, my emotions, my morning run, my accident, my acquittal (or my conviction). My time, over which I may have some authority, or not, but which I cannot own. My free will. My hotel room. My forum thread, to which I've sent my post (while sitting in my hotel room). My eyesight.

...Ok, I seem to have exceeded the promised two dozen. Most of these cannot be considered in any way to indicate ownership in the same sense that I own the pens in my pocket ("my pocket"); none of them indicate chattel ownership necessarily.