Syncretism of Path Expressions in Selected Iranian Languages: A Nanosyntax Approach

The present paper investigates the syncretism patterns of path expressions in Persian, Kermanshahi Kurdish and Luri (Minjayi dialect) according to Nanosyntax theory. In the introduction, we elaborate Nanosyntax theory by referring to some works as literature review. In the next part, along with explaining Path decomposition, we investigate syncretism patterns in the three mentioned languages. The data is gathered from native speakers. This paper indicates the extent in which Nanosyntax can answer the syncretism in Iranian languages and which patterns they have. The pattern of syncretism in Persian is Location¹Goal¹Source = Route. Most of the time the syncretism of Route = Source is spurious and the reason is that the verb lexicalizes the route node. Syncretism pattern in Kermanshahi Kurdish depends on the position and type of the verb. In the case of verbs which accept enclitics, if the verb is in the initial position, the pattern is “Location=Goal¹Source”; and if the verb is in final position, the pattern will be “Location=Goal=Source”. In the case of verbs which don’t accept enclitics, there are two patterns: “Location=Goal=Source” and “Location= Source≠Goal”. In Luri, if the verb is in the initial position, the syncretism pattern is “Location=Goal≠Source”; and if the verb is in the final position, the pattern will be “Location= Source≠Goal”. According to researches, no language has been found to have the last pattern in Path syncretism.