Abstract
The motion verb āmadan in Middle Persian has acquired a new meaning besides its lexical meaning, which indicates the notion of ‘change-of-state’ and is the starting point of later lexicalization and grammaticalization process in New Persian. Beside its functions as a light verb in compound constructions in Early New Persian giving rise to new meanings, this grammaticalized verb is a multi-functional grammatical marker indicating the inchoative aspect, among others. It also functions as a marker of passive construction in Early New Persian which does not continue in Contemporary New Persian . In Contemporary New Persian the grammatical scope of this verb develops more and beside the inchoative marking function, in some certain contexts it expresses avertive aspect as well as indicating hortative and epistemic modalities. Another function of āmadan is its role as a discourse marker in this period, too. In this study, the grammaticalization path of this verb towards these grammatical functions is traced in three historical periods of Middle Persian, Early New Persian, and Contemporary New Persian.
Main Subjects
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