Clause structure in Persian: a role and reference grammar analysis

This paper studies clause structure in Persian within the framework of Role and Reference Grammar (RRG). This theory deals with the interaction of syntax، semantics and pragmatics in grammatical systems and believes that understanding grammatical structure can only be possible through considering semantic and pragmatic functions of language. This theory uses a concept of the layered structure of the clause that is different from the other syntactic approaches in that it is based on two fundamental contrasts: the contrast between the predicate and its arguments، and the contrast between arguments and non-arguments. The functional elements or operators have separate projection in this theory. Information structure is also explored for the clauses. The interpretation of information structure in RRG، to a large extent، originates from Lambrecht (1994). There are two aspects for information structure which are related to one another. Eventually، the semantic to syntax and the syntax to semantic linking are shown in the linking part of this grammar. In fact the relationship between the three modules of syntax، semantics and pragmatics are formally indicated in this component of RRG. This paper explores the layered structure of simple sentences in Persian. It was demonstrated that the layered structure of the clause proposed in RRG works for Persian as well.