Language Research

The present/ future forms of the infinitive verb "XAstan" (to want) are made by adding the prefix /mi-/ and the inflectional endings /-am/, /-i/, /-ad/, /-im/, /-id/, and /-and/ to ... Read More The present/ future forms of the infinitive verb "XAstan" (to want) are made by adding the prefix /mi-/ and the inflectional endings /-am/, /-i/, /-ad/, /-im/, /-id/, and /-and/ to the verb /XAh/. These forms include [mi.XA.ham] (I want), [mi.XA.hi] (you (singular) want), [mi.XA.had] (s/he wants), [mi.XA.him] (we want), [mi.XA.hid] (you (plural) want), and [mi.XA.hand] (they want) respectively. The pronunciation of these forms in colloquial Persian has decreased from three syllables to two syllables. As a result, they are pronounced [mi.XAm] (I want), [mi.XAj] (you (singular) want), [mi.XAd] (s/he wants), [mi.XAjm] (we want), [mi.XAjn] (you (plural) want), and [mi.XAn] (they want) respectively. This research aims to identify and analyze the phonological processes causing the various pronunciations of these forms. The primary cause is the deletion of /h/ in /XAh/ at the word level. Then at the post lexical level in which the prefix /mi-/ and inflectional endings are added, /h/ deletion leads to hiatus. The hiatus of the vowel /A/ and the vowel /a/ in the endings /-am/, /-ad/, and /-and/ is resolved by /a/ deletion. However, the hiatus of the vowel /A/ and the vowel /i/ in the endings /-i/, /-im/, and /-id/ is resolved by inserting [j] as an intervocalic consonant. The phonological processes that occur at the post lexical level include /d/ deletion, [n] insertion, and syllabification. Since phonology and morphology interact in the application of these processes, their analyses are done using Striatal Optimality Theory (SOT) at word and, post-lexical levels. Striatal OT which draws heavily on the tradition of Lexical Phonology is a hybrid model of OT in which the insights of Lexical Phonology and Morphology are broadly combined with parallel OT. It posits three distinct levels or strata including stem, word and post lexical levels. Striatal OT assumes that, in each phonological cycle, the mapping from input to output is effected by means of parallel constraint-based computation in the manner of OT.

Analyzing the Pronunciation of Two Persian Homofunction-homogragh Conjunctions in Various Environments

Bashir Jam

Volume 12, Issue 1 , July 2021, , Pages 49-70

https://doi.org/10.22059/jolr.2021.318522.666697

Abstract

Persian uses [o] and [va] as two conjunctions, both of which mean ‘and’. Interestingly, both are represented by the grapheme <و> in the Persian orthography. Accordingly, ... Read More Persian uses [o] and [va] as two conjunctions, both of which mean ‘and’. Interestingly, both are represented by the grapheme <و> in the Persian orthography. Accordingly, they are considered homofunction-homogragh conjunctions in the present research. The morpheme [o] is an enclitic that has reached the Modern Persian from the past after undergoing some phonological and categorical changes. The morpheme [va] is an Arabic loanword. The main reason for borrowing it from Arabic was to compensate for the impossibility of applying [o] in an environment where there is no host for [o] to attach to, or there is a pause between the host and [o]. Moreover, a speaker can produce [o] or [va] if he chooses not to pause after producing a word. This research aimed at analyzing the pronunciation of these conjunctions in various phonological environments applying optimality theory (Prince & Smolensky, 1993/2004). In so doing, the constraints whose interactions within the rankings determine the pronunciation of these conjunctions are discussed. As the results regarding the enclitic conjunction [o] indicate, in case the first part of the parallel structure ends in a consonant, it will undergo resyllabification. However, if the first part of the parallel structure ends in a vowel, an intervocalic consonant will be inserted between it and the enclitic [o] to resolve hiatus. More specifically, if the first part of the parallel structure ends in one of the vowels [i], [u] or [o], the intervocalic consonant will share the same feature with them. But as other Persian vowels [e], [a] or [A] do not share a significant feature with Persian common intervocalic consonants, the intervocalic consonant will share the same feature with the enclitic [o]. Finally, when the conjunction /va/ conjoins a word starting with a long vowel, a ranking which contains a specific type of MAX constraint resolves hiatus by deleting /a/ and preserving the long vowel.

An Optimality-Theoretic Account of Phonology-Semantics Interaction in Persian

Bashir Jam

Volume 9, Issue 2 , January 2019, , Pages 67-87

https://doi.org/10.22059/jolr.2018.69529

Abstract

The relationship between semantics and phonology is generally denied (Archangeli & Pulleyblank, 1994: 5, 433). That is, semantic and phonological changes usually apply independently. ... Read More

An Optimality-Theoretic Account of Exceptionality & Optionality in Pre-Nasal Raising in Persian

Bashir Jam

Volume 7, Issue 2 , January 2017, , Pages 19-38

https://doi.org/10.22059/jolr.2016.61523

Abstract

Pre-nasal raising is a phonological process in Persian through which the low vowel /A/ changes to the high vowel [u] in the environment before nasals. While this process is obligatory ... Read More

Explaining Different Pronunciations of The Enclitic Verb /-ast/ in Different Contexts: An Optimality Theoretic Account

Bashir Jam

Volume 6, Issue 1 , September 2015, , Pages 21-40

https://doi.org/10.22059/jolr.2015.56640

Abstract

The third person singular enclitic verb /-ast/ which is equivalent to English verb “is” undergoes the highest number of phonological processes among Persian enclitic ... Read More

An Optimality –Theoretic Account of changing /u/ to [I] in Silakhori Dialect

Bashir Jam; Ahmad Zalaghi

Volume 4, Issue 2 , March 2014, , Pages 21-40

https://doi.org/10.22059/jolr.2014.50265

Abstract

The changing of round and back vowel /u/ to unround and front vowel [i] occurs in Lori dialects as well as some other Persian dialects. This vowel change includes both unrounding and ... Read More

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Author = Bashir Jam

Interaction of Phonology and Morphology in the Pronunciation of Present/ Future Forms of the Verb "stan"(to want) in Colloquial Persian

Abstract

Analyzing the Pronunciation of Two Persian Homofunction-homogragh Conjunctions in Various Environments

Abstract

An Optimality-Theoretic Account of Phonology-Semantics Interaction in Persian

Abstract

An Optimality-Theoretic Account of Exceptionality & Optionality in Pre-Nasal Raising in Persian

Abstract

Explaining Different Pronunciations of The Enclitic Verb /-ast/ in Different Contexts: An Optimality Theoretic Account

Abstract

An Optimality –Theoretic Account of changing /u/ to [I] in Silakhori Dialect

Abstract