Language Research

Abstract Once DS is abandoned in the Minimalist framework and structure building is carried out by merge, multiple root syntactic objects in a single derivational step are not only allowed in principle, but must indeed be employed in some derivations in order for the extension condition to be satisfied. The crucial aspect of this theoretical model is that it permits instances of sideward movement, whereby a given constituent moves from a syntactic object K to an independent syntactic object L. Following Hornstein and Nunes (2014), the present study examines the sideward movement of the subject in the Persian past participle clauses assuming that these non-finite adverbial adjuncts hang below the vP of main clauses. As in these structures the subjects of the adjunct clauses are understood as being the same as the subjects of the matrix clauses, it will be argued that the head T in this language has a strong EPP feature that triggers movement of an overt or covert subject into its Specifier. Based on these assumptions, a DP has to move sideways from the subject position of the participle clause to merge with the main vP allowing the external theta-role of the matrix verb to be discharged. In the next step, the same DP moves upward to the Specifier of TP to satisfy the EPP feature of the main clause. Sideward movement also provides an escape hatch for the subject to have its case checked. Were this constituent not to move, the derivation would crash at LF as it could not get its uninterpretable case feature checked within the adjunct clause.

Abstract In this research Azeri negative sentences are scrutinized with a focus on Negative Concord Item (NCI) s. Linguists such asEnç (1998), Kornfilt (1997) and Progovac (2005) assert that Turkish and Azeri lack Negative Concord Item but we put forward a claim in the contrary. Our purpose is to prove the existence of NCI in Azeri Turkic. This paper includes an introduction to Negative markers and specification of NegP in Azeri sentences. Then, using arguments like Negative Concept, Zanuttini's (1991) generalization and Valduvi's (1994) and Gianakidou's (2000) tests, we argue that Azeri Turkic has NCI. After that, we deal with the licensing of NCIs. In addition to proving the existence of NCI in Azeri, we argue that due to the syntactic behavior of NCIs in interrogative contexts in Azeri Turkic as in some other languages, another criterion must be added to Valduvi's (1994) and Gianakidou's (2000) tests, according to which, the question particles can also license NCIs.

Abstract This paper attempts to indicate that the two conceptual categories of evidentiality and epistemic modality are distinct although they may look similar; thus their corresponding adverbs also consist of separate subcategories of adverbs. To attain this goal, different data were gathered both from written and spoken sources and analyzed mostly with the help of semantic considerations in the framework of functional typological approach. VanValin (2005)’s argument regarding the order principle dominating the functional elements and the interaction of evidential and epistemic modality operators with their corresponding adverbs and therefore considering two distinct subcategories of evidential and epistemic modal adverbs are in line with the results of this study. In contrast with previous studies which view the relationship of the two categories as one of inclusion or overlapping, the current project argues that epistemic assessment of the speaker should not be confused with evidential considerations since evidentiality has to do with the information source. Also it can be argued that various levels of reliability should not be equated one to one with different degrees of epistemic commitments of the speaker because the epistemic modal expressions and their corresponding adverbs are somewhat the evaluation of the likelihood while the evidentials evaluate the reliability of the information source. Eventually we must draw a line between the two categories and their relating adverbs and see them as separate groups.

Abstract Personification is a tool that a writer uses to change the objective position of words into the subjective form. Using personification, writers show their creativity. Attributing human traits to non-human is the traditional description of personification. In this article we go beyond the limits of this definition. We hypothesized that personification is a process which is formed by many factors in a context and without considering these factors, we cannot draw right conclusions that match up with the real nature of discourse. A short-Persian story called “the mouse”, by Choobak, a famous Iranian writer, was chosen to be studied on the basis of discursive-semiotics, to show how the process of personification forms. It was assumed that discontinuance and tensive-function affect the formation of the process of personification. At last, the results confirmed our hypothesis. Furthermore, the results revealed that the process has a minimal and a maximal side. If attributing human traits is absent, personification process leads to the minimal side and if there is a tendency to attribute human traits increases, the process leads to the maximal side. This paper paves the way for giving dynamic descriptions for all literal items.

Abstract In this paper, the efficiency of Persian speech phonemes from the point of view of efficiency in speaker recognition has been studied, and then with due attention to efficiencies, the ranking of phonemes has been done. For estimating the efficiencies of phonemes, we have introduced one criterion that has been defined in the form of phonemes “Inter speaker distance” to “Intra speaker distance” ratio, referred to as “Speaker Affectability Ratio: SAR”. The necessary experiments and computations have been done for all Persian speech phonemes (with the exception of /À/) using the Persian speech database “Farsdat” and then on the basis of the results of these experiments and computations, the ranking of single phonemes and phoneme groups has been done. The results have shown that in the phoneme groups ranking, vowels and semi-vowels are first, nasals, fricatives and liquids are second and, obstructions and plosives are third from the point of view of efficiency in speaker recognition. Likewise, the ranking of single phonemes shows that the phoneme /∂/ is first and the phoneme /t/ is last from the point of view of efficiency in speaker recognition. The results of this research in line with research on other spoken languages such as English, Germanic and Dutch show high agreement for phoneme groups ranking but noticeable differences in details of rankings are also noted.

Abstract In this paper, the validity of the key prediction of Adaptive Dispersion Theory was tested. According to this prediction, vowels of a given language are organized in such a way that they are sufficiently distinct on the perceptual level. It implies that more crowded inventories, which also have wider F1 dimension, occupy greater vowel spaces than inventories with fewer vowels.  To investigate this hypothesis, the size of Persian vowel space with 6 peripheral vowels was compared with that of Fereydounkenari variety of Mazandarani dialect with 5 peripheral vowels, using the methodology introduced by Padgett and Tabain (2005) and three size indices proposed by Becker-Krystal (2010). Through rigorous statistical analysis, the sizes of vowel spaces were found to be positively correlated with the number of vowels in the inventory; that is, Persian has clearly greater vowel spaces in all groups, i.e., male and female stressed and unstressed contexts, than Mazandarani, but the number of peripheral vowels did not affect the F1 dimension. For an in-depth analysis, the three area indices were also calculated for back and front subspaces in those groups. The results indicated that only Persian male and female unstressed groups in back subspaces have greater F1_span than Mazandarani dialect. With few exceptions, then, the prediction of Adaptive Dispersion Theory was validated.

Abstract This article aims to analyze the semantics of the Persian verb “gereftan” by providing a transparent picture of its polysemous nature. The data under study are gathered from Farhang-e Bozorg-e Sokhan (The Great Sokhan Dictionary) and analyzed based on Principled Polysemy Model (Tyler & Evans 2001, 2003). To this end, a scheme for its primary sense is first drawn by determining the distinct senses of gereftan; then its other senses derived from this main sense will be systematically analyzed. In short, this study provides the semantic network of gereftan, which will deepen our knowledge about this verb in the contemporary Persian.

Abstract “Bēstūn” other than a place name is the name of a noble lady mentioned in the Pahlavi book of Ayādgār ī Zarērān. This article presents the author’s revised method of reading the Middle Persian version of the ancient *baga-stāna- in the Sassanian Book Pahlavi sources and tries to give a clear view on the signification and cultural background of this name as well as tracing it down to the culture of the present day Iran. Though it has not yet been determined to which God *baga-stāna- had been devoted, based on the Avestan and Middle Iranian words derived from the root bag-, one may suggest that “Bēstūn” continued to be used as a proper name meaning “possessing wealth and power”. A practical approach to the recognition of survivals of this name in the indigenous sub-cultures of Iran is to pay proper attention to the multiple manifestations of material and non-material cultural relics as well as dialectal variants capable of unveiling the ancient lexicon from under the dust of time.