1- Ph.D. student, Department of Linguistics, Ferdowsi University of Mashad, Mashad, Iran
2- Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract: (7699 Views)
In this paper, we analyze the grammatical category of satellite, which was introduced at first by Talmy in his semantic – typological researches. Satellite is a closed – class category that includes any constituent other than a nominal complement that is in a sister relation to the verb root. Talmy categorizes world's languages into two main typological categories: languages, which show framing concepts such as path, aspect, etc. on the verb, are verb – framing languages, and languages, which show framing concepts on the satellites, are satellite – framing languages.
In this study, satellite, its formal representations and the semantic concepts expressed by it, are analyzed. It was found that the main form of satellite in Persian has been the verbal prefixes in the past periods, and now it is the verb - assistant element in Persian compound verbs. It can be said that a kind of lexicalization has taken place in this category. That is, the concepts, which were previously expressed by bound morphemes (prefixes), are now expressed by free morphemes (verb assistant in compound verbs). It was also indicated that Persian language in some cases is compatible with satellite – framing and, in some other cases, with verb – framing languages. So it is suggested that this classification works better if defined as a continuum with satellite – framing languages at one end, and verb – framing languages at the other end, and that languages can be anywhere on this continuum or even be moving toward one of the ends of the continuum.
Article Type:
Research Paper |
Subject:
Linguistics|The use of language Published: 2014/06/22