Equative Constructions in the Laki Language

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

2 Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

3 MA, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

Abstract

Different linguistic constructions, including comparative, superlative, similative, and equative constructions, are employed to convey the concept of comparison. Equative and similative constructions exhibit the highest semantic and structural resemblance out of all the specified constructions. In such constructions, two entities -referred to as the comparee and the standard- are compared based on a specific characteristic or quality. In equative constructions the comparison is based on a gradable property, where one of the referents has the property to a higher degree, while similative constructions compare the similarity in manner. This study explored the equative constructions in the Laki language by primarily relying on classification put forth by Haspelmath (2017). The data for the present study consists of 123 equative sentences taken from spoken interviews with twelve individuals residing in Noorabad city. The findings indicate that speakers mainly use seven strategies to convey the concept of equality in Laki. Furthermore, the data show that in numerous equative constructions in Laki, there is a preference for omitting the standard marker while retaining the degree marker

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References

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Research in Western Iranian Languages and Dialects
Volume 12, Issue 4
Special Issue: Linguistics of Kurdish and Related Languages, Guest editor: Erik Anonby, Professor of Linguistics and French, School of Linguistics and Language Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Email: erik.anonby@carleton.ca
December 2024
Pages 67-80

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