Abstract
Languages occasionally have syntactic constructions that are difficult, if not impossible, to describe using a context-free grammar. One such construction is a crossing dependency. Crossing dependencies have been well studied for Dutch and Swiss German (Huybregts, 1976; Shieber, 1985), and recently for Tagalog (Maclachlan and Rambow, 2003). In this paper I propose that Persian exhibits crossing dependencies. In this SOV language, a light verb construction in the future tense becomes interrupted by a future auxiliary verb, which agrees with its subject in person and number. The future auxiliary also splits passive constructions in a similar manner. These forms present interesting challenges for computational models of language. I will discuss implications of this phenomenon within current formal and linguistic theories.
Degree
MA
College and Department
Humanities; Linguistics and English Language
Rights
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Dehdari, Jonathan M., "Crossing Dependencies in Persian" (2006). Theses and Dissertations. 732.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/732
Date Submitted
2006-07-13
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd1441
Keywords
Persian, Farsi, crossing dependencies, cross-serial dependencies, context-free grammar, planarity, split headedness, syntax, linguistics, BYU
Language
English