The Analysis of Transitivity in Persian child Language from perspective of Hopper and Thompson Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Linguistics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Linguistics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Linguistics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

 Since transitivity is a crucial and applied concept in language and discourse, its analysis can provide answers to many questions in child language studies. Transitivity in semantic-discoursal approach of Hopper and Thompson theory involves a number of components, only one of which is the presence of an object of the verb. The other components are the punctuality and telicity of the verb, the agency of the participant, and the affectedness of the object. To this end, 100 declarative clauses from 4 children around 3 were analyzed. We analyzed different parameters of Hopper and Thompson theory in Persian child language to see if there are any differences in identified parameters between child and adult language. Properties of the prototypical transitivity and its occurrence in Persian child language were also studied. The data analysis method was descriptive-analytic. The results showed all components of Hopper and Thompson theory have morphosyntactic and semantic manifestations in Persian child language. Features such as participants, kinesis, volitionality and affectedness of the object have higher frequency in child language than that of the adults which result in higher transitivity of clauses in child language. All ten parameters identified in this theory are present in the prototypical transitive clauses in Persian child language. The prototype of a transitive construction in child language involves an animate being (perhaps the child itself) acting on an animate object.
 
 

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References

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Research in Western Iranian Languages and Dialects
Volume 8, Issue 3 - Serial Number 30
September 2020
Pages 49-68

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