A.A. Potebnja's inner form. An excursus starting from the origins of language

The aim of the present article is to offer an orderly exposition of the various definitions and functions that the concept of inner form plays in the theory of the Ukrainian linguist A.A. Potebnja. The article mainly deals with Mysl' i jazyk, however, other later and earlier publications by Potebnja are taken into consideration. Because the concept of inner form is so broad, three main spheres of interest have been defined in the analysis: word formation (i.e, Potebnja's conception of the origins of language), cognitive and linguistic development, and, finally, the prose/poetry dichotomy. The article concludes with some suggestions regarding possible areas of further study of Potebnja's theory.