Combined Sentences in Rumi’s Masnavi, their Grammatical Patterns, and Semantic and Logical Relations

Abstract

Sentence combining has always been a challenging issue in grammar. There is disagreement over the classification of word and sentence structure. In grammar books, while studying sentence structure, different views have been expressed about combined sentences. Dividing combined sentences into and “dependent/complex” sentences has created ambiguity. Some grammarians restrict combined sentences to dependent/complex sentences and exclude other sentences. This article reviews the definitions and discussions of combined sentences and criticizes these views and analyzes the grammatical structure of compound/coordinated and dependent/complex sentences in Rumi’s Masnavi. Meanwhile, it adds new types of compound/coordinated sentences to previous classifications. This case study has adopted descriptive-analytical research method involving the six volumes of Masnavi. Data were collected through library studies. In addition to identification and description of combined sentences, this study explored the semantic and logical relations in such sentences which is a significant step toward understanding cohesion in Masnavi. Thus, the research elaborates on the structure of sentences in Masnavi and contributes to linguistics. It offers a detailed picture of sentences in Masnavi and presents a significant report of their linguistic features. Attempt has been made to offer novel points about the subject and to repeat various parts until a logical conclusion is obtained.