Investigating Object-Oblique Alternation in Persian Aktionsart

Rezai, Vali; Makaremi, Zhaleh

doi:10.22059/jolr.2023.354726.666825

Investigating Object-Oblique Alternation in Persian Aktionsart

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Vali Rezai ¹

Zhaleh Makaremi ²

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.

² Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22059/jolr.2023.354726.666825

Abstract

Object alternations involve different realizations of arguments, and are represented in three forms, including locative alternation, dative shift, and object-oblique alternation. Objects in object-oblique alternation are expressed in two different structures without fundamental changes in meaning. The second participant, in a transitive predicate, is either stated in a direct object position or in a preposition construction. The present paper investigates object-oblique alternation in Persian Aktionsart, based on Role and Reference Grammar. The objective of this study is twofold; firstly, to determine the im/possibility of object-oblique alternation in different classes of verbs, and secondly, to specify various readings of this alternation in verb classes consisting of states, activities, achievements, and accomplishments. The data are extracted from Persian newspapers, websites, and daily conversations. Data analysis denotes that some state verbs, including cognition, emotion, and possession verbs can be represented in object-oblique alternation. The alternate forms of cognition and possession verbs, refer to the kind of object in question. Alternation in sub-classes of activity verbs, that is, performance and consumption verbs, display total-partial interpretation. The alternative forms of creation verbs in this class, in the case of having a non-resultative verb, denote the kind of objects in question. Directed perception verbs, regardless of the parameter of object individuation, are represented in object-oblique alternation. Some achievement verbs may also be used in this alternation. Accomplishment verbs are rarely used in object-oblique alternation, except in cases where depending on the context, total-partial interpretation is intended. Generally speaking, the predicates that undergo object-oblique alternation share some characteristics; they are mostly non-state ones, their subjects are mainly agentive, and the objects are mostly low or non-affected. Furthermore, the verbs, which are more prone to object-oblique alternation, are chiefly non-resultative, and do not lead to fundamental changes in the object.

Keywords

Object alternation

Object-oblique alternation

Actionsart

Transitivity

Persian

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