Ali Asghar Rajabzade; Masoud Asadi; Shaban Barimani
Abstract
Abstract or unexpressed pronoun in Pro-drop languages refers to a linguistic element having a syntactic function with no phonetic representation. These kinds of languages are divided in different varieties. This article, in the first level, tries to mention the properties of pro-drop languages ...
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Abstract or unexpressed pronoun in Pro-drop languages refers to a linguistic element having a syntactic function with no phonetic representation. These kinds of languages are divided in different varieties. This article, in the first level, tries to mention the properties of pro-drop languages and at the second one, tries to compare and survey Mazandarani based on pro-drop language division done by Rizzi (1982) to see that in which group, it can be placed. As a whole, the structure of all pro-drop languages can be divided into four groups; 1. Fixed pro-drop languages like Italian, Greek and Persian; 2. Expletive (Null filler) pro-drop languages such as German, some kinds of Dutch and African languages; 3. Relative pro-drop languages as Hebrew, Russian, Marathi, and Brazilian Portuguese; 4. Discourse pro-drop languages like Chinese, Japanese and Korean. With the comparison of Mazandarani to the properties of pro-drop languages, we come to the conclusion that this language belongs to the category of consistent pro-drop languages. Meanwhile, it can be categorized in discourse pro-drop languages as well, because the co-indexation of covert pronoun and the subject of matrix sentence depends on the discourse context.
Mehrzad Mansoori
Abstract
Observing Extended Projection Principle (EPP), a DP should be generated or moved to Spec of TP with or without Phonological form. As stated by Rizzy (1982), a pro drop language can have expletive or non-expletive pro. The study has indicated that expletive pro, hereafter “pro puč” (a Persian ...
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Observing Extended Projection Principle (EPP), a DP should be generated or moved to Spec of TP with or without Phonological form. As stated by Rizzy (1982), a pro drop language can have expletive or non-expletive pro. The study has indicated that expletive pro, hereafter “pro puč” (a Persian expression means empty), is more sophisticated than it seems in Persian linguistic words. The study has classified pro puč into five categories. The present corpus-based study has showed that expletive pro and its real pronoun cannot be used interchangeably in any of the contexts. Having searched pro puč in a qualified corpus, at least one case has been found in which expletive pro has been substituted with its non-expletive counterpart. Consequently, it has been argued that both form and function should be considered in language study, particularly in syntax.
