4 Aspect in Tajik
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Roohollah Mofidi
Abstract
In this chapter, the syntax-morphology and semantics of the aspect system of Tajik is addressed. Firstly, the imperfective vs. perfective aspect in this language is represented by an overt marker of the former as opposed to the unmarked status of the latter. In fact, an adverb of Middle Persian was grammaticalized as a prefix, and it was inherited by Tajik as me. This prefix is employed by almost all verbs obligatorily in all imperfective environments, to express a variety of imperfective meanings, including (durative and focalized) progressive and habitual as well as the extended interpretations of future and irrealis. Three stative verbs are the exceptions, and they do not generally take this prefix. Secondly, the lexical verb istodan ‘to stand’ was grammaticalized in Tajik as an auxiliary in a construction consisting of the participial form of the main verb plus the (present or past) perfect form of the auxiliary. This construction expresses the progressive meaning specifically, along with the general imperfective marker. Thirdly, there are some other auxiliaries which are used in periphrastic constructions, to express some notions of Aktionsart. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the interaction of Tajik aspect system with some other domains such as tense, mood and modality, and event structure, and it is concluded by a comparison of the aspectual devices of Tajik with Dari, Classical Persian and the Persian of Iran, to provide a speculative chronology for the emergence of these devices in Tajik.
Abstract
In this chapter, the syntax-morphology and semantics of the aspect system of Tajik is addressed. Firstly, the imperfective vs. perfective aspect in this language is represented by an overt marker of the former as opposed to the unmarked status of the latter. In fact, an adverb of Middle Persian was grammaticalized as a prefix, and it was inherited by Tajik as me. This prefix is employed by almost all verbs obligatorily in all imperfective environments, to express a variety of imperfective meanings, including (durative and focalized) progressive and habitual as well as the extended interpretations of future and irrealis. Three stative verbs are the exceptions, and they do not generally take this prefix. Secondly, the lexical verb istodan ‘to stand’ was grammaticalized in Tajik as an auxiliary in a construction consisting of the participial form of the main verb plus the (present or past) perfect form of the auxiliary. This construction expresses the progressive meaning specifically, along with the general imperfective marker. Thirdly, there are some other auxiliaries which are used in periphrastic constructions, to express some notions of Aktionsart. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the interaction of Tajik aspect system with some other domains such as tense, mood and modality, and event structure, and it is concluded by a comparison of the aspectual devices of Tajik with Dari, Classical Persian and the Persian of Iran, to provide a speculative chronology for the emergence of these devices in Tajik.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of contributors VII
- 1 How Tajik was made into a national language 1
- 2 Standard Tajik phonology 45
- 3 Modality and mood in Tajik 109
- 4 Aspect in Tajik 183
- 5 Tajik Sign Language in context 229
- 6 Tajik dialects of Badakhshan and Shughnani: A comparative perspective 275
- 7 Linguistic landscape of Bukhara: The ambiguous future of Tajik 371
- 8 Terminology in Tajik 389
- Index 403
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of contributors VII
- 1 How Tajik was made into a national language 1
- 2 Standard Tajik phonology 45
- 3 Modality and mood in Tajik 109
- 4 Aspect in Tajik 183
- 5 Tajik Sign Language in context 229
- 6 Tajik dialects of Badakhshan and Shughnani: A comparative perspective 275
- 7 Linguistic landscape of Bukhara: The ambiguous future of Tajik 371
- 8 Terminology in Tajik 389
- Index 403
