Die Verbalpartikel BE im Neuiranischen

Abstract

The verbal particle BE is investigated as a means for classifying New Iranian languages. While the particles in use may have different origins, three major groups can be defined functionally and geographically: a northern group lacking a grammaticalized verbal particle, a southern group using BE only in the modal system, and a central group using BE in the tense-aspect as well as in the modal system. It will be suggested that the classical tree model visualizing language classification should be substituted by a model which utilizes the tree structure and supplements it by incorporating areal effects. The presented data are the basis for further studies in the ways of grammaticalization of the verbal particle BE in Iranian languages