The Position of Adverbs in Persian according to Traditional Adjunct-based and Cinque’s Specifier-based Approaches

Abstract

The present study sought to explore adverbs in Persian according to two generative viewpoints, namely the traditional adjunct-based approach and Cinqueʼs specifier-based approach. Accepting the categorization of adverbs into sentential and verbial ones, the study revealed that in Persian adverbs appear in sentence-initial, post-subject, and pre-verb phrase positions. It was also shown that only if the adverbs of manner appeared in the pre-verb position, they were interpreted as manner adverbs. However, when they occupied post-subject position, they were considered subject-oriented adverbs. Moreover, the heavy stress could make Persian adverbs appear in the initial position in sentences. The coordination of Persian adverbs was also evidenced. Although the relative order among higher and lower adverbs maintained by Cinque was not followed in Persian, it was concluded that specifier-based approach explains the position of adverbs in Persian in a better way.

Keywords

• adjunct-based approach
• specifier-based approach
• higher adverb
• lower adverb