Linguistics and Khorasan dialects
Ali Izanloo
Volume 14, Issue 2 , July 2022, , Pages 87-126
Abstract
One of the characteristics in each language (or, more precisely, the speakers of each language) is that it changes the loan words and names, so as to both assimilate them into its phonological system to be pronounced and give them the vernacular taste and color in accordance with its specific characteristics. ...
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One of the characteristics in each language (or, more precisely, the speakers of each language) is that it changes the loan words and names, so as to both assimilate them into its phonological system to be pronounced and give them the vernacular taste and color in accordance with its specific characteristics. In the meantime, proper names come from areas where they are not translated and borrowed between languages. The present study investigated the phonological changes of single-part first loan names in the endangered species of Esfidani (village in Bojnourd) Turkish. To this end, modified loan names were first collected from among the villagers’ names. Each of them was then compared with their form in standard Farsi language and the phonological processes performed were identified and classified. Subsequently, the phonological or pragmatic motives of each name were discussed. The phonological processes of deleting vowels, consonants or a chain, lenition, raising and fronting were the most prominent types of processes in the localization of data. The findings showed that there exist various motivations behind these changes: some of them were due to the assimilation into the Turkish phonemic system and some had pragmatic reasons.
Sina Shafiyan; Ali Izanloo; Seyed Amir Amin Yazdi
Volume 12, Issue 1 , January 2021, , Pages 85-109
Abstract
This research compares the usage of hedges in narratives of healthy people and patients with schizophrenia. The participants selected for this study were 15 female patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, and the comparison group consisted of 15 healthy female control subjects. The two groups were ...
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This research compares the usage of hedges in narratives of healthy people and patients with schizophrenia. The participants selected for this study were 15 female patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, and the comparison group consisted of 15 healthy female control subjects. The two groups were matched for chronological age, gender, socio-economic variables and level of formal education. ‘The Pear Film’, a six-minute motion picture with a soundtrack but no dialogue was used to elicit narratives from participants. All samples were audio-recorded and transcribed for further analysis. After implementing the participants' narratives in the MaxQda 2018, the coding of hedges was applied via the software. Hyland (1994) categorization and Skelton (1998) definition of hedges with some changes regarding the Persian language was used to identify and encode hedges. For this purpose, 7 categories of hedges including modal verbs, modal expressions, raising impersonal constructions, negative constructions, question forms, verbs of doubt and re-counts were defined in this study. All the data collected through the narrative production from participants were examined using SPSS software. Data analysis was consisted of two parts; first, the data were presented in descriptive terms and then, inferential statistics including Mann-Whitney and t-test were applied. The results of comparing the usage of hedges among the 7 categories showed that healthy people utilized modal expressions (p= 0.015) and verbs of doubt (p= 0.000) more significantly than patients. Through the usage of hedges, narrators intend to inform their listeners that they are not assured about a particular statement uttered by them. This indicates that they are aware of this doubt and it seems that this aspect of hedges might be related to the theory of mind which is impaired in schizophrenic patients. Also, participants must be able to evaluate the existing conditions and options in the context of the film to properly employ hedges within their narratives, and as patients with schizophrenia have difficulties at pragmatic level, this could affect their usage of both modal expressions and verbs of doubt. Therefore, significant difference between two groups may be linked to the patient’s impairment in theory of mind and the inability to use pragmatic rules.
Ali Izanloo
Volume 11, Issue 1 , May 2019, , Pages 261-284
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Language is a system whose various levels interrelate with each other. Thus, one of the most logical types of linguistic searching is to investigate the link between different linguistic phenomena at different levels. The study aimed to analyze the phonetic processes ...
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
Language is a system whose various levels interrelate with each other. Thus, one of the most logical types of linguistic searching is to investigate the link between different linguistic phenomena at different levels. The study aimed to analyze the phonetic processes occurring in two-part loan first names in one of the Turkish varieties, to identify the patterns of phonetic changes, and to examine the communicative and functional role of the language along with phonetic changes occurred. Altogether, they would contribute to the recognition of the close relationship between form and meaning and their trace in one another.
Review of Literature
Among the research conducted on names, two related ones can be referred to. One is Nadim (2005) which has examined informal names in Qeshm Island. He has dealt with names whose pronunciation has been distanced from the standard. For example, he points out that the name Ibrâhim is pronounced Berohimou, Berohimek and Berohim. In addition to specifying the type of change (morphological: Ibrâhim: Brohimek; shortening: Ibrâhim: Berohim; labeling: Abdullah: Abdul, Gorva = cat), he mentions two types of social function as well: surface function (foreground or limited), including the creation of joy, intimacy, contempt and ridicule; and the main or collective function of lifestyle (food, clothing, customs, music, etc.). From the phonetic perspective, the researcher solely states the three types of change mentioned above and does not exactly inspect the phonetic structure of the names. On the other hand, changes discussed lie within the scope of Persian language and differ from the aim of the current study which focuses on interlingual changes.
In addition to the above study, Izanloo (in press) has also explored first names. He has studied 140 single-part loan first names in Esfidani Turkish and extracted their phonetic localization patterns. Moreover, the pragmatic functions such as humiliation, endearment and the use of names with regard to politeness relations have been noted. The above study has only considered single-part names and pragmatic aspects have been the researcher’s focus. The present study, probing both two-part loan first names and the relationship between phonetic level and communicative and discursive functions, differs from the above research.
Method
Ninety three two-part loan first names were analyzed in Esfidani Turkish. Names were collected through field observation, consultation with the villagers and making use of the list available to the village council. A Persian monolingual with standard accent and an elderly resident of the village were then asked to pronounce each and every single one of the names. After comparing the differences between Persian and Turkish, phonetic processes were extracted and categorized.
Results and Discussion
Based on the types of name components, phonetic processes are analyzed in the following.
Qoli second part: Sa’âdatqoli, Emâmqoli, Rezâqoli, Mortezâqoli
In all the names of this category, the second part is accompanied by the raised first and last vowel. Sa’âdatqoli is pronounced as [sɒt.ɢu.le] by removing two syllables. Emâmqoli becomes [Ɂi.mɒm.ɢu.le] with raising the first vowel of the first part and [Ɂi.mo] with reduction, respectively. In Rezâqoli [rɒ.zɒʁ.le], the first vowel of the first part assimilates and the first vowel of the second part is deleted along with the conversion of the four-syllable structure [CV.CV.CV.CV] into the three-syllable structure [CV.CVC.CV]. Mortezâqoli turns to [mur.sɒʁ.le] by raising the first vowel of the first part, the removal of the [te] chain, the fortition of the consonant [z], and the semi-raising of the final vowel of the second part, converting the five-syllable structure [CVC.CV. CV.CV.CV] in Persian into three syllables [CVC.CVC.CV].
It is worth noting that, in general, shorter forms are used to express and establish a position of power. This is done through the use of short form(s) of a name to identify the type of power relationship (superordinate, subordinate or equal in intimate or formal relationships). More precisely, when a name is deformed in a variety of forms, the longer forms are unmarked, while the shorter forms are marked and have adopted discursive functions. This finding is also in line with everyday observations where a long chain of labels is commonly used to address important individuals. Therefore, there is a kind of an iconic relationship between the shortage of a name and its subordination. This means that in names that have changed in a number of ways, the shorter the form, the more subordinately it is used. In the tradition of iconicity studies, the iconic relationship between form and meaning is analyzed in terms of three principles of cohesion, adjacency and sequential order (Willems & De Cuypere, 2008). It can now be claimed that in a language system, the length of a chain (formal properties) is also closely related to its meaning or function. Given the fact that the longer the chain, the more energy is needed to produce it, and since language system logic is based on parsimony and energy efficiency (Calabrese, 2005), when encountering a long chain, it should be borne in mind that there is a strong incentive behind it which leads the language to the opposite direction of parsimony. The current research shows that longer forms of a name are used for more polite situations. This finding suggests that interpersonal communication engineering is of utmost importance in linguistic communication. By this token, spending more energy by extending the phonetic chain in order to secure and consolidate the interpersonal relationship by being more polite (Ogiermann, 2009) is completely justified.
Conclusion
The present research was an attempt to study the phonetic changes of two-part loan names in Esfidani Turkish. Data showed higher frequencies in the processes of lenition, semi-raising, lowering and umlaut. In addition, the data suggests that this variety highly tends to shorten the names lexically by removing a phone, or a phonetic chain. As discussed in the discussion section, these changes have been aimed at optimizing the communicative function of the language by increasing the expression of each of the names.
Ali Abdollahi Nezhad; Ali Izanloo; Azam Estaji
Volume 9, Issue 17 , July 2018, , Pages 153-174
Abstract
Extended abstract
1- Introduction
When a word resembles the meaning of another word, both words are in the same ideal cognitive domain and follow a certain conceptual cognitive pattern. Such associations suggest important relations between these concepts that can be because of so many reasons like ...
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Extended abstract
1- Introduction
When a word resembles the meaning of another word, both words are in the same ideal cognitive domain and follow a certain conceptual cognitive pattern. Such associations suggest important relations between these concepts that can be because of so many reasons like cultural priorities. Making a new association and eventually a new concept out of a new word, depends on the importance and the state of the association. Linguists' emphasis on the existence of focal and prominent meaningful entity for every single one of the concepts has been the fountain of many investigations for determining various meanings of a concept and its focal meaning in the form of semantic network.
2- Theoretical Framework
Some similar researches involve: (Achresh & Jahromi, 2015), (Afrashi et al., 2012), (Afrashi et al., 2015), (Afshari & Samet, 2014), (Ghavam Esperghem, 2015), (Golshaieb et al., 2014), (Graf, 2011), (Hesabi, 2016), (Ibañez-Moreno, 2005), (Mousavi et al., 2015). (Nasib & Izanloo, 2016), (Rasekh Mahand & Ranjbar Zarabi, 2013), (Rezaee & Rafiee, 2016), (Seargeant, 2009), (Sorahi, 2012), (Zahedi & Mohammadi Ziyarat, 2011).The common point that can be found among these researches and similar ones is that they try to determine different meanings of a word and draw its semantic network. The point that has usually been ignored is the grounds or inspirations that these meanings originated from. In the current research, based on the assumption that meanings are inspired by concrete or abstract features (social, psychological, cultural, etc.), the motivations of the meanings of bread in Farsi are going to be investigated.
3- Methodology
For collecting different meanings of bread, 18 Persian dictionaries and a corpus containing more than 2,600,000 words were covered. Meanings were elicited by referring to dictionaries' explanation for that special entry, then the prominent feature of bread that played the most salient role in making the meaning, was gained. For instance, the idiom "naan-e sefid-e falak" that could literally be translated as "white bread of sky" means (is record ed in the dictionaries as) "moon". When it is asked what feature of bread has inspired this meaning, it leads to "appearance": Similarity between a white round bread and the moon. Therefore, the shape and appearance of bread has been the ground and motivation for this idiom.
4- Results
In this research, the role of experience in creating various secondary meanings is studied. According to Fillmore (1982), meaningful elements in a language are created based on recurring experiences. Concepts are frames containing a collection of experiences that in contact with new phenomenon, one of their aspects can be triggered. On the other hand, for using the idiom "yek loghmeh naan"/"a bite of bread" meaning "a little amount of food or money", the concept of amount has been triggered, or in another idiom "nan-daani"/"bread's place" meaning "stomach", the place of bread has been triggered. Therefore, it can be said that tracing the semantic triggers of concepts leads to valuable information about different aspects of life and culture of societies.
5- Conclusion
According to Lakoff and Johnson (2003), our conceptual system is the result of our interaction with our culture and physical environment. It is interesting that in some idioms the meaning of bread refers to high value and in some to low value. The low value of bread can be traced through history in periods that Farsi speakers were suffering from drought and famine and vice versa, the high value of bread can be traced in periods that this foodstuff has been abundant. This research showed that meanings are not arbitrary and there are not any meanings out of the circle of features and interaction concerning them. It approved results of Buccino, Colagè, Gobbi & Bonaccorso, (2016) that by neuro-physiological investigation and analyzing the linguistic meaning reached to the conclusion that neurological structure of brain of human is responsible for perceiving sensual, dynamic and emotional meaning of words that proves embodied meaning in linguistics. The most important role of embodiment is generating commonalities from experiences of various people in a language society. These experiences build the infrastructure of common linguistic meanings.
sanaz Alipour; shahla sharifi; Ali Izanloo
Volume 8, Issue 14 , November 2016, , Pages 111-139
Abstract
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
In the last several years, it has been established that metaphor is not deviant and not any prevalent in rhetoric and in literary writing, but is actually an indispensable part of a natural language and thought. Emerging cognitive linguistics as an approach of looking ...
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Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
In the last several years, it has been established that metaphor is not deviant and not any prevalent in rhetoric and in literary writing, but is actually an indispensable part of a natural language and thought. Emerging cognitive linguistics as an approach of looking at both language and thought in recent years, has led to take metaphor in to account as a powerful new way of understanding and expressing abstract imaginations by concrete and perceptible things. Metaphor is here broadly defined as a set of correspondence or a mapping between two conceptual domains, following the central tenet of conceptual metaphor theory (CMT, Lakoff & Johnson, 1980) and discourse is understood as verbal communication in natural situation. Metaphor is cognitive-linguistically defined as a conceptual domain, the source (e.g., WAR) and the target domain (e.g., ARGUMENT). To study metaphor, its functions in sentences, its underlying mappings, its effect on processing and so on, they need to reliably and systematically identify in order to create a solid basis for analysis. To fulfill this, we present the metaphor identification procedure followed by an example of how the procedure can be applied to identify metaphorically words in this text, then we suggest a format for reporting the result of MIP. The result of this study has proved that although using this method for identifying metaphor is not easy at all, but at present MIP is the optimal, authentic, reliable and explicit method for identification metaphor.
2. Methodology
In order to get our aim i.e. identifying and analyzing of metaphor in real texts, I will take a data-based approach. The corpus I work on contains some parts of news articles. In this study I will use MIP as a systematic, explicit and repeatable method for metaphor identification. This method is in fact a response to the vast amount of intuition-based research.
3. Discussion
One of the problems in metaphor research in last years has been identifying and explicating metaphoric language in real discourse. The difficulty with this line of work, however is the metaphor scholars often differ in their intuitions about what constitutes a metaphoric word or phrase. Metaphor researchers often do not provide criteria in their empirical investigations for specifying what is, and what is not metaphorical, and not surprisingly focus on different aspects of metaphorical language depending on their own theoretical orientation and research purpose. Variability in intuitions and lack of precision about what counts as metaphor make it difficult to compare different empirical analysis. More important, the lack of agreed criteria for metaphor identification complicates claims about the frequency of metaphor, its organization in discourse and possible relations between metaphoric language and metaphoric thought. In 2007 Pragglejazgroup -a group of scholars from a variety of academic disciplines- have attempted to create an explicit, reliable and flexible method for identifying metaphorically used words in spoken and written language. This article presents the "metaphor identification procedure" (MIP), followed by an example of how the procedure can be applied to identifying metaphorically used words in a news text. This research show sour procedure and outlines the way it may be used by metaphor in different empirical researches. The procedure aims to establish, for each lexical unit in a stretch of discourse, whether its use in the particular context can be described as metaphorical.
4. Conclusion
MIP has been created by Pragglejaz Group to provide a reliable, explicit and authentic tool for the identification of metaphorically used words in different contexts. Although some scholars may claim that they can use their intuition for identifying metaphor, their intuition may be different and hurt the reliability of the research. Our experience suggests that researchers will need to spend some time getting acquainted with the procedure by applying to texts. Metaphor identification by using MIP is a hard work and must be done slowly and analysts must go through all the steps of the procedure constantly and step by step for each lexical unit. Various decisions must be made at each step of the procedure that often require researchers to determine how they will proceed when encountering specific instances of language in different contexts. The finding of this research demonstrates the value of doing linguistic metaphor identification and analysis in the way that was done in the metaphor in Discourse Project. At the end, we can say that MIP can be used to address very specific research questions, for instance, one emerging issue in metaphor research concerns the density of metaphorical expressions in discourse, used as in different discourse genres (news, academic, fiction, conversation).
Javad Ghanbari Beglar; Mahmoud Elyasi; Ali Izanloo
Volume 5, Issue 8 , April 2013, , Pages 1-19
Abstract
Kurmanji is probably the most well known variety of Kurdish Language. Apart from such countries as Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and some areas in western Iran, it is spoken in Khorasan-e Shomali and Khorasan-e Razavi Provinces in north-east Iran. The residents of Biglar –a village near Quchan in north-west ...
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Kurmanji is probably the most well known variety of Kurdish Language. Apart from such countries as Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and some areas in western Iran, it is spoken in Khorasan-e Shomali and Khorasan-e Razavi Provinces in north-east Iran. The residents of Biglar –a village near Quchan in north-west Khorasan-e Razavi Province- as well as many other people living in the neighboring villages speak this Kurdish dialect. Since there are some prominent differences between the Kurmanji dialect of Biglar and other Kurmanji dialects spoken in the neighboring villages, this paper is to describe these differences and discuss the factors involved in such a variation among the dialects. In this article, having introduced the differences, the major external and internal factors involved have also been discussed. Results show that the Kurmanji Dialect of Biglar represents some phonological, morphological, and syntactic differences with other Kurmanji dialects spoken in the area, and that two other major languages spoken in the region, i.e. local Turkish and Persian are among the most known factors involved in such an event. It was also shown that the dialect was mostly affected by Turkish, and to a lesser degree, by Persian. Among the internal factors involved, lacking distinction between the Present and Past forms of transitive verbs is worth mentioning, a phenomenon which can still be tracked in other Kurmanji dialects spoken in the neighboring villages.
