Linguistics
Reza Sahraee; Hossein Bazoubandi; Hamed Mowlaei Kuhbanani
Abstract
In order to strengthen the scientific register of Persian language, word selection for the scientific terms of foreign languages and accurate knowledge of word-formation mechanisms in this register and its capacities are of considerable importance. Few statistical and corpus-based researches have been ...
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In order to strengthen the scientific register of Persian language, word selection for the scientific terms of foreign languages and accurate knowledge of word-formation mechanisms in this register and its capacities are of considerable importance. Few statistical and corpus-based researches have been conducted on the word formation processes of the approved terms of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature. One of the fields not comprehensively addressed so far is the field of transportation within its four main fields. Therefore, the present research, using a descriptive-analytic method, is a comparative study of the word-formation processes of the approved terms of the Academy and their English equivalents in the four fields of transportation (intra-city road, marine, rail and air transport) in the first eight books, including 2929 Persian terms and 2929 English terms (5858 words in total). The results show the dominant word-formation processes in the Academy's words in the field of transportation are respectively compounding (11.77%), compound-derivative (6.69%) and derivation (4.06%). Also, less than one percent of the corpus is formed using other word-formation processes. Moreover, 73.36% of words are the result of syntactic structure and 3.14% are used as simple words. By contrast, the dominant word-formation processes of the English equivalents are respectively compound-derivative (39.56%), compounding (32.57%) and derivation (5.87%); Less than 5% of all English words are made by using the processes of abbreviation, clipping and blending. In addition, in English language, 10.03% of the data are syntactic structures and 2.7% of the words are simple words.
Reza Mohammadi; Hossein Bazoubandi
Abstract
Undoubtedly, the use of modern linguistic theories for the analysis of religious texts can pave the way for a better understanding of such texts. Among the new theories, which today have a special place and wide application in text analysis and other linguistic areas, is Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) ...
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Undoubtedly, the use of modern linguistic theories for the analysis of religious texts can pave the way for a better understanding of such texts. Among the new theories, which today have a special place and wide application in text analysis and other linguistic areas, is Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) of Halliday and Matthiessen (2014). According to this theory, the structure of language is influenced by the functions that language plays in the communication context and in the outside world, and this effect is manifested in the form of three broad metafunctions: ideational, interpersonal and textual. Since the emphasis of interpersonal metafunction is on the way of exchanging meaning between the speaker and the audience, its application in the analysis of religious texts, while making a better understanding of such texts, can be an appropriate benchmark for assessing the ability to generalize this theory. Therefore, using a descriptive-analytical method in terms of the Systematic Functional approach of Halliday and Matthiessen (2014), the present study aims to analyze one of the most famous sermons of Nahj al-Balagha, i.e. Shaqshaqiya Sermon. The main results of the research show that, despite the dominant frequency of indicative mood, Imam Ali (AS) throughout this sermon has somehow acted in the exchange and transfer of meaning as if both sides of the interaction engage in the construction of the text, thus avoiding any kind of one-sidedness and unilateral. Moreover, since the sermon has been delivered by the motive and the purpose of establishing the right of the caliphate by Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali, while at the same time, Imam does not use the Inshai terms for persuasion of the audience in addressing the audience in the sermon, the reason for this can be that Imam was so certain of his rightfulness and position as to the caliphate that he merely has used the indicative mood and he did not even need to use such terms to prove such a right.
Hossein Bazoubandi; Mahinnaz Mirdehghan
Abstract
It is quite evident that children are capable to understand meanings which they are unable to produce correctly. Recent studies have also provided evidence that children occasionally produce correct forms that they do not understand yet. The present study seeks to focus on the question of “how ...
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It is quite evident that children are capable to understand meanings which they are unable to produce correctly. Recent studies have also provided evidence that children occasionally produce correct forms that they do not understand yet. The present study seeks to focus on the question of “how is it possible for children to produce correct forms that are not yet understood by them?” This question has recently came into the sharp focus of linguistics and psycholinguistics studies, and various explanations have been proposed thereof. Using a descriptive-analytic method, this paper aims to identify these studies and the explanations in which the asymmetry between linguistic production and linguistic comprehension have been dealt with. Among later explanations, the Bidirectional Optimality Theory (BOT) shows some potentiality in dealing with the asymmetry between these two dimensions and it seems more valid than other explanations accordingly. Nevertheless, the main hypothesis of the present research states that this almost strong theory also faces major challenges which question its validity. To support the claim, the paper indicates the following challenges: a) absence of a single concept about bidirectional optimality; b) confusion as to blocking process; c) disagreement over the way of ranking, type and number of constraints on a specific subject; and d) lack of transparency in adopting an appropriate comprehension model (e.g., top-down or bottom-up). As a result, BOT, like other approaches in the field, is not able to explain this asymmetry adequately in terms of theory and methodology.
