Similative Constructions in Persian Language

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 foreign languagesDepartment of English language, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Lorestan, Khorramabad

2 PhD

Abstract

The concept of comparison in our cognitive system can appear in the form of various constructions. One of the constructions that can be used to establish a comparison relationship between two (or more) referential nominal are "similative constructions". In such constructions, a referential phrase, which is called a standard, has a superior characteristic/attribute, and another referential phrase is compared to it (standard) due to having the same characteristic/attribute. In the present research, based on the opinions and methodology of Haspelmet and Bachholtz (1998), we analyzed the data of Persian language. These data are 739 samples, mainly from contemporary stories and screenplays. The findings confirm that the speakers generally use two morphological and syntactic strategies to encode the concept of similarity in the language. In the morphological construction strategy, we can consider three types of simile constructions with similative particle, similative predicate and Essive case. At the level of syntax, there are phrases and clauses that appear as adjunct and add the concept of similarity to the whole structure, they include disjunct constructions, role phrases, similative clause, simile clause, and accord clause. In addition, in this research, two types of equative constructions were identified in Persian language, which were neglected in other researches.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Arzhang, G. (1971). Adjective and its grammatical role in modern Persian language. Faculty of Literature and Humanities University of Tehran, March 13, No. 3 (77) [in Persian]
Farshidvɑr, K. (2009). Dastor-e Mofassal-e Emroz. Tehran: sokhan [in Persian]
Haspelmath, Martin & Buchholz, O. (1998). Equative and similative constructions in the languages of Europe. In Johan vɑn der Auwera (ed.), Adverbial constructions in the languages of Europe, 277–334. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Haspelmath, M & the Leipzig Equative Constructions Team. (2017). Equative constructions in world-wide perspective. In:  Treis, Yvonne & Vɑnhove, Martine (eds.) Similative and equative constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective. Amsterdam: Benjamins. DOI: 10.1075/tsl.117.02. 9-32.
Heine, B. (1997). Cognitive Foundations of Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University press.
Kortmann, Bernd. 1997. Adverbial Subordination: A Typology and History of Adverbial Subordinators
Based on European Languages. Berlin: De Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110812428
Imani, A. (2021). A Typological Study of Superlative Comparison in Persian. Journal of Researches in Linguistics, 13(1), 163-180. doi: 10.22108/jrl.2022.130547.1602 [In Persian]
Imani, A. (under print). The Superlative Comparison Schemas in Persian. Language Related Rresearch Journal. [In Persian]
Mace, J. (2003). Persian grammar: For reference and revision. London: Routledge.
Moezzipour, F., & Najafi, P. (2022). Similative and Equative Constructions in Lori Silakhori Dialect. Journal of Researches in Linguistics, 14(1), 153-172. doi: 10.22108/jrl.2022.135776.1686
Najafi, P., Rahimian, J., & Rezaei, M. (2022). Equative construction in Turkic Azarbaijani. ZABANPAZHUHI (Journal of Language Research), 14(42), 149-171. doi: 10.22051/jlr.2019.25554.1685
Najafi, P. & Rahimian, J. (2020). Equative constructions in Persian language. Zabanpazhuhi (Journal of Language Research), 13 (38), 243-264. [In Persian]
Mahootian, Shahrzad (1997). Persian. London: Routledge.        
Nose, M. (2009). The expressions of comparative and similative in Oceanic and non-Oceanic languages: A typological study. Language and Linguistics of Oceania, 1: 45–62.
Nose, M. (2010). A Contrastive study of comparative constructions among English, Japanese, and Tok Pisin: by using corpora in cross-linguistic contrast. In R. Xiao (ed.). Using Corpora in Contrastive and Translation Studies, Cambridge scholars publishing: 457-470.
Stassen, L. (1985). Comparison and Universal Grammar. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Treis, Y. (2017). Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond. In:  Treis, Yvonne & Vɑnhove, Martine (eds.) Similative and equative constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective. Amsterdam: Benjamins. DOI: 10.1075/tsl.117.02. 91-142.
Ylikoski, J. (2017). Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami. In:  Treis, Yvonne & Vɑnhove, Martine (eds.) Similative and equative constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective. Amsterdam: Benjamins. DOI: 10.1075/tsl.117.02. 259-290.
Journal of Iranian Dialects & Linguistics
Volume 8, Issue 1
September 2023
Pages 191-209

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 07 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 11 April 2023
  • Accept Date: 15 April 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics