Another look at Persian rā A single formal analysis of a multi-functional morpheme

Simin Karimi, Ryan Walter Smith

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The morpheme -rā has typically been analyzed as an instance of differential object marking, appearing on direct objects that are definite or in some sense specific. In this chapter, we discuss several cases in which -rā may appear on DPs that are not direct objects. Building on insights from dependent case theory (Marantz 1991; Baker & Vinokurova 2010, Preminger 2011, 2014, Kornfilt & Preminger 2014), we develop an analysis of -rā, according to which it is the realization of accusative case, treated as a dependent case assigned in syntax, and a specificity feature. In addition to accounting for the facts discussed in the context of Modern Persian, we show how an extension of our analysis can account for the distribution of -rā in Classical Modern Persian.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationADVANCES IN IRANIAN LINGUISTICS
EditorsRichard K. Larson, Sedigheh Moradi, Vida Samiian
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company
Pages155-172
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9789027260932
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Publication series

NameCurrent Issues in Linguistic Theory
Volume351
ISSN (Print)0304-0763

Keywords

  • Accusative case
  • Dependent case theory
  • Specificity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Linguistics and Language
  • Language and Linguistics

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