Language Studies

Abstract The present study investigates the productivity of compounding process in Persian.
Productivity, the creation of new word forms based on the present language rules, is
one of the crucial properties of every language. It exists in all language modules
including morphology. Most of the scholars studying productivity consider it as a
continuum from fully-productive to unproductive with semi-productive processes in
between. In the present study, the authors attempt to investigate productivity of
compounding process in Persian language. Morphological productivity measurement
methods introduced by Baayen (1994) are employed in order to investigate the abovementioned
productivity process. It should be mentioned that each method measures
different aspects of productivity.

Abstract This paper first familiarizes the reader with some general information about
Manichaeism and Manichaean cosmogony. Then, after defining “parable” as a literary
genre, the whole Manichaean myth of creation is considered as a parable. At the next
stage, the role of parable is emphasized as a tool to facilitate the understanding of
religious, philosophical, and moral doctrines for the masses. After defining, and
establishing the functional capability of parable, a Manichaean Middle Persian parable
is studied and analyzed, according to the pattern of the Manichaean myth of creation.
At the end, a comprehensive comparison is made between the characters and elements
of the Manichaean myth of creation and the Middle Persian parable.

Abstract In this article, the first chapter of Sibawayh’s book, al-Kitāb devoted to the linguistic
science is reviewed. In this research, the Persian translation of this chapter is first
provided. Then, some of the contents of this chapter are described with conceptual
analysis method, focusing on the terminology used in the text and using theoretical
tools of moden linguistics. In this study, a comparison is made between the concepts of
this chapter of al-Kitāb and the concepts of Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar.
Some theories of Farabi and Avecina are also compared with the content of this
chapter. As a result of this comparative study, components which may be representing
the intellectual tradition of Iranian scholars in the field of language study are achieved.

Abstract In this article, four unpublished Manichaean manuscripts of the Turfan collection
(M1571a, M409b, M1206 and M7380) preserved in Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of
Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) are read, translated and interpreted. The pieces
containing the Manichaean alphabet in the abecedarian order had been in fact a type of
educational handbook for the Sogdian beginners who intended to compose an
abecedarian versified text. The article deals with the abecedarian system of the
Manichaean texts as well as the reason/s for the presence of some non-abecedarian
characters, particularly the letter (after qršt) in the alphabetic lists. The techniques
which a Manichaean Sogdian scribe could apply as an option to teach the students are
also analyzed. In the appendix, a newly-found Manichaean manuscript from Neyšābūr,
which was likewise used as an educational handbook, is studied.

Abstract The concept of ‘narrative metalepsis’ is first introduced and characterized by Gerard
Genette (1972) along two integrated dimensions: one is concerned with the formal
profile of metaleptic narration, particularly the formal linguistic features
distinguishing it from intra-, extra-, and meta-diegetic levels; the other is concerned
with the world-creating and (at the same time) world-destroying functions performed
by metaleptic narration. Of these two, only the second, that is the functional aspect of
metalepsis-in postmodern fiction alone-has almost entirely attracted the attention of
narrativists at the expense of marginalizing any research on the first aspect. However,
drawing on some of the most prototypical cases of metalepsis in modern Persian
narratives (including realistically and postmodernistically motivated ones), this
article aims at classifying and clarifying the applications of metaleptic technique in
narrative contexts.

Abstract Studies over the last three decades on the morpho-syntactic structure and semantic
properties of causatives in different languages have revealed that the formal structure
of causatives reflects man's conceptualization of causing and caused events in real
world. This study begins with a review of basic concepts, elements, relations and types
of causative constructions. A set of evidence and data on Persian causatives are studied
in the frameworks proposed by Comrie (1983), Dixon (2000), and Haiman (1983).
The results show that in Persian causatives, the formal distance between linguistic
forms correlates with the conceptual distance between their conceptual counterparts.
This reveals the iconicity of causative constructions in Persian.

Abstract This paper deals with the Middle Persian (Pahlavi) word 'bayaspān'. In the author's
opinion, this word has been recorded with only one meaning 'king's messenger,
envoy' in Pahlavi dictionaries. However, they do not refer to its other meaning as 'a
kind of marriage'. The author has presented some samples from Pahlavi law books
based on which he proposes a different root for bayaspān etymologically. Finally, he
suggests that this word should be allocated two separate entries at Pahlavi
dictionaries in future.

Abstract In this essay is discussed the bayaspān word in Pahlavi language (Middle Persian). In the author's opinion, this word was record only with one meaning 'messenger, envoy' in Pahlavi dictionaries. In another hand, it dose not refer to other meaning as 'kind of marriage' at them. Author has mentioned some samples from Pahlavi law books and is suggesting different roots for bayaspān in etymologically. Finally, he reasons: it is better that, this word would be record into different two entries at coming up dictionaries in future.