Lexical Aspect of compound verbs in the Birgandi dialect

زبانشناسی و گویش های خراسان

Article 3, Volume 7, Issue 13, September 2015, Pages 39-60   

Document Type: علمی - پژ‍وهشی

DOI: 10.22067/lj.v7i13.35651

Author

Zahra Abbasi^*

Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

1- Introduction
Birjandi dialect is one of eastern Iran dialects. Compared to standard Persian, this dialect is more diverse and vast in terms of using verb, and it has morphological varieties and diverse forms that cannot be observed in Persian and other dialects. Syntax of Birjandi dialect follows the principles of Persian sentence making, and the main difference between Birjandi dialect and standard Persian lies in phonology and morphology (Rashed Mohassel, 1998).
In this paper, in addition to studying aspect and its types in Persian, durative lexical aspect in compound verbs in Birjandi dialect is investigated. Furthermore, Corresponding compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” [do] and “dashtan” [have], and continuous lexical aspect in these verbs in Birjandi dialect would be dealt with.

2- Theoretical framework
Aspect is a main feature of the structure of Indo-European languages. Today it distinctly exists only in Slavic and Greek languages, and in other Indo-European languages aspect is in contrast with the concept of tense. In this work, lexical aspect in Birjandi dialect is investigated and the categorization of lexical aspect made by Abolhasanai (2011) and Golfam (2006) is used as the framework of the study.
The lexical aspect of a verb is a part of the way in which that verb is structured in relation to time. (Comrie1976:3) Any event, state, process, or action which a verb expresses (collectively, any eventuality) may also be said to have the same lexical aspect. Lexical aspect is distinguished from grammatical aspect: lexical aspect is an inherent property of a (semantic) eventuality, whereas grammatical aspect is a property of a (syntactic or morphological) realization. Lexical aspect is invariant, while grammatical aspect can be changed according to the whims of the speaker. (Bybee 2003:157)
According to Abolhasani (2011, p. 102), aspect shows the process of doing the verb in terms of continuity, repetition, and duration, and lexical aspect is in contrast with grammatical aspect. Lexical aspect is obtained from verb’s lexical features and grammatical aspect is taken by verb during its inflexion. Golfam (2006, p. 74) believes that lexical aspect is of four types, including punctual, durative, stative and dynamic.
In the initial categorization of lexical aspect, Abolhasani (2011) refers to situational- and not morphological- distinction between stative and dynamic verbs. He divides dynamic verbs into two groups of punctual and durative, and {according to Cameri’s categorization (1976)} divides them into two groups of telic and atelic.

3- Methodology
By using categorizations of Abolhasani and Golfam as the theoretical framework of the study, Birjandi compound verbs were studied. Data consisted of sixty corresponding compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” and “dashtan” and the sentences in which these verbs were used. These corresponding verbs were compared in terms of being stative or dynamic, punctual or durative, and telic or atelic. The data were chosen based on the author’s linguistic intuition and among compound verbs of standard Persian compared to Birjandi dialect, and their sentences were made by native speakers of this dialect.
Based on lexical aspect and the type of situation, data were divided into two groups: a) activities, b) achievements. Several examples of these two groups of verbs were presented and their aspect and semantic differences were taken into account. Data show that in Birjandi dialect compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” are in contrast with their corresponding compound verbs with the light verb of “dashtan”. These corresponding verbs are different from each other in terms of lexical aspect.

4- Discussion
Data related to activities are expressed in the form of ten sentences. In these data, compound verbs, which express the activity and have dynamic, durative and atelic lexical aspect, are in contrast with each other with two light verbs of “kardan” and “dashtan”. Although it seems that, in these samples, lexical aspect has not changed, in compound verbs with the light verb of “dashtan” there is more emphasis on the continuity and duration of action over time. Therefore, continuation of action and as a result durative aspect of these corresponding verbs are different for Birjandi speakers.
Data of the second group (achievements) consist of fifty sentences, reflecting higher frequency of this group of verbs. These data show that compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” have dynamic, punctual and atelic lexical aspect, however, their corresponding compound verbs with the light verb of “dashtan” possess dynamic, durative and atelic lexical aspect. Thus, using the light verb of “dashtan” in this group of compound verbs creates durative lexical aspect instead of punctual lexical aspect, and atelic lexical aspect instead of telic lexical aspect.
Therefore, it can be said that in Birjandi dialect there is aspectual difference between corresponding compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” and “dashtan”, and compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” possess durative and atelic aspect. Furthermore, as Estaji has stated, this aspect in Tehrani dialect is not as frequent as in Birjandi dialect, and just a few verbs of this type can be mentioned. However, regarding systematic representation of durative aspect in Birjandi dialect by using compound verbs with the light verb of “dashtan” instead of the light verb of “kardan”, it seems that this aspect can be traced and investigated in other dialects of Persian too.

5- Conclusion
Data of this study show that corresponding compound verbs with the light verb of “kardan” and “dashtan” in Birjandi dialect have two different aspects, and the use of the light verb of “dashtan” in such compound verbs expresses two aspectual concept of “atelicity” and “duration of action”. Therefore, “dashtan” in such compound verbs has an aspectual function, adds the sense of duration and continuity of action to the verb and turns punctual and telic verbs into durative and atelic ones. This point is in line with Khanlari’s (1998) idea regarding using such verbs in Old Persian and shows that Birjandi dialect has maintained this aspect up to the present time.

Key words: Aspect, Brigandi dialect; lexical Aspect; punctual verb; durative verb.

References (In Persian)
Abolhasani chimeh, Z. (1996). "Aspect in the verbal system in persian language". Master Thesis, Department of Literature and Human Sciences, Tehran University.
Abolhasani chimeh, Z. (2004). "Research on the aspectual verbs in persian language". Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 6th Linguistics Conference. Persian Literature and Foreign Languages Faculty of Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University Press, Volume 1.
Abolhasani chimeh, Z. (2011). "The kinds of lexical Aspect in persian verbs". Journal of Persian Literature, No. 6, Summer 2001, Tome 193.
Abolqasemi, M. (1996). Historical grammar of the Persian language. Tehran: Samt.
Ahmadi Givi, H. (2001). Historical grammar of the verbs, first volume. Tehran: Qatreh.
Ahmadi Givi, H. and H. Anvari, (2006). Persian grammar, second volume. Tehran: Fatemi.
Arjang, G. (2002). Today persian grammar. Tehran: Qatreh, Third Edition.
Estajy, A. (2006). "The transition from ownership to Aspect in the persian language". Journal of Linguistics, No. 9, Tome 16: 1-14.
Babak, A. (2001). The Persian Language in communicative function. Tehran: Sokhan Gostar.
Jahan Panah Tehrani, S. (1984). “punctual and durative verbs “. Journal of Linguistics, first year, No.2: 64-103.
Dabir Moghadam, M. (2005). Linguistic researches in persian language. Tehran: Daneshgahi Press.
Rashid Mohassel, M. T. (2000). "Birjandi dialect". Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, Volume 5. Tehran: Islamic Encyclopedia Foundation.
Rezaei, J. (1975). "Simple past tense Structure and inflection in Herat ancient dialect and compare it with the current Birjandi dialect ". Journal of Literature and Humanities College of Tehran University, No. 90: 100 -110.
Golfam, A. (2006). Principles of grammar. Tehran: Samt.
Mahutiyan, SH. (1999). Persian grammar from the viewpoint of typology. translated by M. Samaei, Tehran: Markaz Publishing.
Majidi, M. (2009). "The Representations and functions of the Aspect in Persian language". Journal of Persian Language and Literature, No. 15: 145-158.
Marzban Rad, A. (2000). Useful Grammar. Tehran: Amir Kabir University (Tehran Polytechnic) Press.
Meshkat Aldini, M. (2000). Persian grammar based on transformation theory, Fourth Edition. Mashhad: Ferdowsi University Press.
Mogharrabi, M. (1993). Compounding in persian language. Mashhad: Toos Publications.
Natel Khanlari, P. (1998). The history of the persian language, three-volume. Tehran: Ferdows Publications , Volume II.
Vahidian Kamyar, T. (1964). Persian grammar in the easy and new way. Tehran: Amir kabir Publications.
Vahidian Kamyar, T. (1992). “Punctual, durative and punctual-durative verbs”. Journal of Linguistics, 9th year, No. 2: 70-75.

References (In English)
Bybee, J., L. (2003). "Aspect". In: Frawley, W.J. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Second Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 157-158.
Comrie, B. (1976). Aspect. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Comrie, B. (1980). Aspect. 3rd Edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Comrie, B. (1987). The world's major languages. London: Routledge: 536- 537.
Estaji, A., and V., Bubenik, (2007). Dichronica. John Benjamins publishing company: 31-45.
Freed, A. (1979). The semantics of English aspectual complementation. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Heine, B. (1997). Possession: cognitive sources, forces and grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hogeweg, L.; De Hoop H.; Malchukov, A. (2009). Cross-linguistic Semantics of Tense, Aspect and Modality. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Huddleston, R.D.; G. K. Pullum (2002). The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kent, R. G. (1953). Old Persian. New Haven. Connecticut:American Oriental Society.
Khomeijani Farahani, A. A. (1990). "A syntactic and semantic study of the tense and aspect system of modern Persian". Ph.D. dissertation. The University of Leeds: Department of Linguistics and Phonetics.
Saussure De L.; Moeschler, J.; Puskás, G. (2007). Tense, Mood and Aspect: Theoretical and Descriptive Issues. Rodopi.
Saussure, De, L.; Moeschler, J.; Puskás, G. (2007). Recent Advances in the Syntax and Semantics of Tense, Aspect and Modality. Walter de Gruyter.
Shopen, T. (1985). Language typology and syntactic description. Cambridge: Cambridge university press: 213-223.
Tallerman, M. (1998). Understanding syntax. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 53-55.
Vendler, Z. (1967). Linguistics in Philosophy. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Vet, C.; Vetters, C. (1994). Tense and Aspect in Discourse. De Gruyter Mouton: Walter de Gruyter.
Zand, H. (1991). "Aspect of Persian Intransitive Verbs". Ph.D. dissertation. University of Kansas.

Keywords

Aspect, Brigandi dialect; lexical aspect; punctual verb; durative verb

References

References (In Persian)

Abolhasani chimeh, Z. (1996). "Aspect in the verbal system in persian language". Master Thesis, Department of Literature and Human Sciences, Tehran University.

Abolhasani chimeh, Z. (2004). "Research on the aspectual verbs in persian language". Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 6th Linguistics Conference. Persian Literature and Foreign Languages Faculty of Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University Press, Volume 1.

Abolhasani chimeh, Z. (2011). "The kinds of lexical Aspect in persian verbs". Journal of Persian Literature, No. 6, Summer 2001, Tome 193.

Abolqasemi, M. (1996). Historical grammar of the Persian language. Tehran: Samt.

Ahmadi Givi, H. (2001). Historical grammar of the verbs, first volume. Tehran: Qatreh.

Ahmadi Givi, H. and H. Anvari, (2006). Persian grammar, second volume. Tehran: Fatemi.

Arjang, G. (2002). Today persian grammar. Tehran: Qatreh, Third Edition.

Estajy, A. (2006). "The transition from ownership to Aspect in the persian language". Journal of Linguistics, No. 9, Tome 16: 1-14.

Babak, A. (2001). The Persian Language in communicative function. Tehran: Sokhan Gostar.

Jahan Panah Tehrani, S. (1984). “punctual and durative verbs “. Journal of Linguistics, first year, No.2: 64-103.

Dabir Moghadam, M. (2005). Linguistic researches in persian language. Tehran: Daneshgahi Press.

Rashid Mohassel, M. T. (2000). "Birjandi dialect". Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, Volume 5. Tehran: Islamic Encyclopedia Foundation.

Rezaei, J. (1975). "Simple past tense Structure and inflection in Herat ancient dialect and compare it with the current Birjandi dialect ". Journal of Literature and Humanities College of Tehran University, No. 90: 100 -110.

Golfam, A. (2006). Principles of grammar. Tehran: Samt.

Mahutiyan, SH. (1999). Persian grammar from the viewpoint of typology. translated by M. Samaei, Tehran: Markaz Publishing.

Majidi, M. (2009). "The Representations and functions of the Aspect in Persian language". Journal of Persian Language and Literature, No. 15: 145-158.

Marzban Rad, A. (2000). Useful Grammar. Tehran: Amir Kabir University (Tehran Polytechnic) Press.

Meshkat Aldini, M. (2000). Persian grammar based on transformation theory, Fourth Edition. Mashhad: Ferdowsi University Press.

Mogharrabi, M. (1993). Compounding in persian language. Mashhad: Toos Publications.

Natel Khanlari, P. (1998). The history of the persian language, three-volume. Tehran: Ferdows Publications , Volume II.

Vahidian Kamyar, T. (1964). Persian grammar in the easy and new way. Tehran: Amir kabir Publications.

Vahidian Kamyar, T. (1992). “Punctual, durative and punctual-durative verbs”. Journal of Linguistics, 9th year, No. 2: 70-75.

References (In English)

Bybee, J., L. (2003). "Aspect". In: Frawley, W.J. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Second Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 157-158.

Comrie, B. (1976). Aspect. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Comrie, B. (1980). Aspect. 3rd Edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Comrie, B. (1987). The world's major languages. London: Routledge: 536- 537.

Estaji, A., and V., Bubenik, (2007). Dichronica. John Benjamins publishing company: 31-45.

Freed, A. (1979). The semantics of English aspectual complementation. Dordrecht: Reidel.

Heine, B. (1997). Possession: cognitive sources, forces and grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hogeweg, L.; De Hoop H.; Malchukov, A. (2009). Cross-linguistic Semantics of Tense, Aspect and Modality. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Huddleston, R.D.; G. K. Pullum (2002). The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kent, R. G. (1953). Old Persian. New Haven. Connecticut:American Oriental Society.

Khomeijani Farahani, A. A. (1990). "A syntactic and semantic study of the tense and aspect system of modern Persian". Ph.D. dissertation. The University of Leeds: Department of Linguistics and Phonetics.

Saussure De L.; Moeschler, J.; Puskas, G. (2007). Tense, Mood and Aspect: Theoretical and Descriptive Issues. Rodopi.

Saussure, De, L.; Moeschler, J.; Puskas, G. (2007). Recent Advances in the Syntax and Semantics of Tense, Aspect and Modality. Walter de Gruyter.

Shopen, T. (1985). Language typology and syntactic description. Cambridge: Cambridge university press: 213-223.

Tallerman, M. (1998). Understanding syntax. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 53-55.

Vendler, Z. (1967). Linguistics in Philosophy. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Vet, C.; Vetters, C. (1994). Tense and Aspect in Discourse. De Gruyter Mouton: Walter de Gruyter.

Zand, H. (1991). "Aspect of Persian Intransitive Verbs". Ph.D. dissertation. University of Kansas.