SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This study is concerned with the internal structure of the noun phrase in the spoken form of Modern Persian, The theoretical framework is based essentially on Phrase Structure grammar, and is in the form of a three-level version of the X-bar Convention notation. That is, for every lexical category X, the Phrase Structure grammar is assumed to consist of three hierarchic syntactic categories X', X'', and X''', each of which can be expanded to dominate a head and various modifiers. This thesis consists of five chapters (including the Introduction) and a concluding section. The function of chapter one is to provide some clarification of the subject, the language, and the theoretical framework utilized in this study. The chapter also explains the motivation for the subject studied, as well as the reason for employing a three-level hypothesis of the X-bar Convention for the analyses presented. Chapter two introduces noun phrases and explores the constituents which form them. Each of such constituents is then considered in the chapters that follow. In introducing noun phrases, chapter two also deals with the categorization of noun phrases and their distinguishing features, in particular those associated with definiteness/ indefiniteness. In addition to this, the chapter presents a study on demonstratives. Chapter three begins with a definition of adjectives, showing that a satisfactory definition for these constituents can only be based on four primary characteristics. The question of adjectives in comparative constructions and coordination is also dealt with in this chapter. Chapter four is dedicated to the discussion of quantifiers, These constituents are shown to consist of different types, each of which is distinguished by particular characteristics. Chapter five covers the structure of relative clauses and examines the constituents which form such structures. In addition to this, chapter five investigates the process of pronominalization within relative clauses. Finally, the concluding section consists of a comprehensive set of Phrase Structure rules which are capable of generating all instances of grammatical noun phrases in Modern Persian without the use of transformations.