نشریه پژوهش های زبان شناسی
سال چهارم شماره 2 (پیاپی 7، پاییز و زمستان 1391)

This paper presents a minimalist analysis of two agreement patterns of variation in Iranianergative languages. On the one hand، there are languages in which the ergative subject is markedergative/oblique morphologically and in which the ergative (past transitive) verb displays full agreement with the nominative object. On the other، languages are found where the transitive subject is doubled by an oblique clitic، but where the transitive verb fails to show agreement with the nominative object. Descriptively speaking، where there is a (doubling) clitic، there is no (agreement) affix (on the verb) and vice versa. To account for this complementarity، it will be argued that the verb-object agreement is a reflex of T° (ense) -object agree، when no intervener impedes the agree relation between the two. However، it will be argued that when clitic doubles a transitive subject، it constitutes a case of defective intervention and causes the T° object agree to break down. Thus analyzed، the competition of clitics and affixes in cross-referencing arguments in Iranian ergative languages amounts to the (un) availability of the agree relation within clausal domain، which is independently derivable from the tenets of the Minimalist Program.

This article deals with the question of the origin of the meaning of agent in the Persian derived words. For this purpose، first، the three major approaches to this question are introduced and assessed. The analysis of data from Persian exhibits that in spite of the three approaches، the agent meaning cannot be considered to have been taken from the theta role of the external argument of the base. Having this point in mind، two other possible origins are then proposed for this concept in derivational words: the meaning of the affix independent of the argument structure of the base، and the morphological structure of the derivational words examined. Finally، presenting evidence of derivation and compounding in Persian، the meaning of the affix itself is introduced as the origin of the meaning of agent in this group of words.

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.

In this article، after presenting some criteria to distinguish Obligatory Control (OC) from Non- Obligatory Control (NOC)، Non-Exhaustive Control (NEC) in Persian is investigated. It is shown that in contrast with most of Iranian linguists’ opinions، some of Williams (1980) and Koster’s (1984) criteria to determine OC are not observed in Persian، for instance it is not necessary to have Uniqueness of controller، c-command relation between controller and controlee and the lack of lexical subject in the complement of OC. However the lack of these criteria is justifiable. Moreover like OC، NEC in Persian allows sloppy and De-se reading and contrary to NOC، barring arbitrary and Long Distance Control (LDC). Then، NEC in Persian can be considered as the subtype of OC.

The objective of this paper is to study metaphorical conceptualizations which are based on two physical postures of STANDING and SITTING، represented in the Holy Quran Language. Following Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT)، introduced by cognitive linguists، the researchers attempt to find out the abstract concepts which are represented through sitting/standing postures of the human body. In other words، for which abstract domai (s) of the Holy Quran، the source domains of Standing and Sitting have been used. Moreover، how CMT is useful in analyzing the meaning of these concepts. The study of linguistic metaphorical expressions shows that in the conceptualization of religious concepts like Prayer، Jihad، and other recommended affairs، SITTINIG/STANDING metaphors have been used coherently. Weakness in doing religious affairs like Jihad and AVOIDING the recommended religious duties has been conceptualized as SITTING. Performing recommended religious affairs، like Prayer، Jihad and Resistance in the way of God، is motivated through STANDING metaphor. The mappings are based on the experiential correlations between source and target domains، though the culture of the Holy Quran affects the type of target domains.

The acoustic explanation of Voice Onset Time (VOT) in initial oral plosives produced by Cochlear Implanted (CI) children and Normal Hearings (NHs) showed that in both voiced and voiceless plosives، the mean amount of VOT was morein the production of CIs. The reasons of this condition are as follows: CIshave less control on the vibration of vocal cords، phonological awareness is increased in CIs and they apply it unnaturally، CIs don’t have enough sensory input in the critical period oflanguageacquisition، and in the production of prevoicing more acoustic cues are necessary. In most cases،labial place of articulation had the least amount of VOT; and palatal place had the most amount of VOT because of having the greatest contact area with the roof of mouth. Comparing with NHs، CIs utteredvoiced plosive withless prevoicing. Furthermore، the amount of VOT in girls was more than boys. Its reason is thatvocal cords sizeis different in boys and girls،and this haseffect on the pressure differences of under and above larynx. It has been proved that early acquisition of language is important in identifying phonological boundaries and acoustic cues. But CIs have lost the first two critical years of language acquisition and have less language experiment.