Abstract

The study deals with equative (‘Mary is as tall as Peter’) and similative (‘Mary sings like Peter’) constructions in the Iron dialect of Ossetic. I focus on the morphosyntactic and semantic features of constructions with Standard markers -aw and χʷəžзn. The morphosyntactic criteria I am using are the part of speech of the Standard of comparison (Peter) as well as the syntactic position of the Comparee (Mary). As for the semantics, I am looking at the type of the construction — equative, similative, or predicative (She is like her sister) — and at the referential status of the Standard of comparison (specific or generic). With both markers, the Comparee can occupy a rather low syntactic position. The Standard of comparison can also be a non-finite verb form, apart from a noun phrase. The main difference between the two Standard markers is their semantics. The equative case -aw tends to be used in similative constructions and expresses a comparison of manner. The predominance of generic Standards in constructions with -aw can be explained by the scope of comparison. Referring to a predicate, the -aw form modifies an action or attribute, comparing it with another action or attribute. Comparison of the two situations as a whole allows -aw to be combined with specific Standards, which turned out to be less acceptable otherwise. The postposition χʷəžзn can occur both in equative and similative constructions; in addition, it can mark a Standard used as an attribute of the Comparee.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.