LINGUIST List 14.2573

Fri Sep 26 2003

Diss: Syntax: Mahand: 'Scrambling in Persian'

Editor for this issue: Takako Matsui <takolinguistlist.org>

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  • mrmahand2001, Scrambling in Persian

    Message 1: Scrambling in Persian

     Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2003 13:33:09 +0000
    From: mrmahand2001 <mrmahand2001yahoo.com>
    Subject: Scrambling in Persian


    Institution: Allame Tabataba'ee University Program: linguistics Dissertation Status: Completed Degree Date: 2003

    Author: Mohammad Rasekh Mahand

    Dissertation Title: Scrambling in Persian

    Dissertation URL: http://www.kkhec.ac.ir/klf/rasekh.htm

    Linguistic Field: Syntax

    Subject Language: Farsi, Western (code: PES )

    Dissertation Director 1: Vida Shaghaghi Dissertation Director 2: Koorosh Safavi Dissertation Director 3: Ali Miremadi

    Dissertation Abstract:

    Scrambling is the feature of free word order languages. This syntactic movement can move arguments and adjuncts in different languages. The study of its different syntactic and pragmatic features in Persian is the aim of this dissertation. The study shows that scrambling in Persian is mainly the feature of spoken language. It has different kinds; short distance, long distance, multiple and rightward. Scrambling creats two main problems for generativisim. First, it is supposed to be an optional movement, contrary to the Economy Principle. Second, scrambling has both A and A'- movements properties. This study shows thst scrambling in Persian is not syntactically motivated and it has both A and A'- movements' properties. Scrambling in Persian normally doesn't change analytic meaning, but it alters the information structure. It can creat new Topics in different sentences and if accompanied with focal stress, it can create contrastive foci. Scrambling is in direct relation with [+/- New] and [+/- Prominent]; two pragmatic features. It is also connected to specificity, a semantic feature of nouns.