Possessive construction in the Kurdish language
A cognitive perspective
The present study investigates Possessive Constructions and domains of possession in Kalhori Kurdish (KK) from a Cognitive Linguistics perspective to reveal the arrangement of constituents and relationships between the head (possessee) and dependent (possessor). This qualitative descriptive-analytical study collected data by interviewing KK speakers in Iran. The results indicate that KK speakers employ both the B-construction (hin-e) and Be-construction (ha) at the clause level to denote predicative possession characterized by [−whole-part, −kinship] relationships and [+alienable] ownership. Additionally, KK speakers were found to utilize the H-construction (/dire/) at the clause level associated with [+whole-part, +kinship] relationships and [±alienable] ownership. KK speakers also employ possession splits in nominal/attributive possession by attaching the possessor, marked by the [+human] feature, to the possessee, marked by the [±human] feature, as an affix.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction and background
- 2.A brief note on previous work
- 3.Theoretical framework
- 3.1Possessive event schema
- 4.Research methodology
- 5.Possession in Kurdish
- 5.1Inalienable and alienable possession
- 5.2Be-construction
- 5.3Fluidity of possession
- 5.4Belonging construction
- 5.5The event schemata as sources of construction in KK
- 5.5.1Action schema
- 5.5.2Location schema
- 5.5.3Companion schema
- 5.5.3.1Be-construction
- 5.5.3.2H-construction
- 5.5.3.3Emphasis on companion relationship
- 5.5.4Genitive schema
- 5.5.4.1NP/AP construction
- 5.5.4.2H-construction
- 5.5.4.3Splits in the domain of NP/AP
- 5.5.5Goal schema
- 5.5.5.1Beneficiary in the B-construction
- 5.5.5.2Social possession
- 5.5.5.3Beneficiary with ʔæra (‘for’)
- 5.5.5.4Restrictions on use
- 5.5.6Source schema
- 5.5.6.1Marking the source
- 5.5.7Topic schema
- 5.5.7.1Topicalization of Pr
- 5.5.7.2Social possession
- 6.Conclusion
- Notes
- Abbreviations
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References