The Role of Frequency in Shaping Grammar; Evidence from Persian

In usage-based linguistics, the importance of frequency as a factor in shaping grammar is well-established. It is suggested that language form can be related to language use. In this approach, linguistic structure is often characterized as an emergent phenomenon which is influenced by frequency of occurrence. The asymmetry between short (and zero) and long forms could be seen in expressing different categories and structures. Basically, those values which are expressed frequently tend to be expressed by short forms. These short forms are used not only at the level of words, but also at the level of grammar. In this paper some of these asymmetries in Persian grammar are investigated and frequentist explanations are suggested.