Adverb Position in Persian WH-Multiple Questions

Abstract

Persian wh-multiple questions are divided into two groups: sequential and split. Sequential group includes simple and coordinated. In the split one, coordinated wh-words are separated. The purpose is to study the syntactic operation of WH-multiple questions considering the position of speaker-oriented adverbs. First, we will examine the performance of WH-multiple questions from collocation viewpoint, then, consider speaker-oriented adverbs’ position in these constructions to find out the relationship of adverbs with WH-questions. Theoretical framework is based on Gračanin-Yuksek (2017), Lipták (2011) and also Citko and Gračanin-Yuksek (2013). The method is descriptive-analytical. Data analyses of WH-questions show their collocation is grammatical with adjunct-adjunct array except in the simple coordinated ones. The position of speaker-oriented adverbs shows that æz hæme mohemtær is an only adverb with high frequency used in them. In contrast, the presence of adverbs like qætæn, sɑdeɡɑne, ʃɑjæd, bɑrhɑ, xoʃbæxtɑne, and hæɡiɡætæn in WH-multiple questions causes ungrammatically of wh-constructions. The position of ehtemɑlæn in adjunct-adjunct of sequential coordinate is before the second wh-question. The position of be rɑsti in adjunct-argument of sequential coordinate is before the first wh-question. The position of vɑɡeæn in adjunct-argument of simple coordinate type is before the first wh-question. Also, in argument-argument of sequential coordinate the position of ehtemɑlæn is before the second wh-question.

Keywords

• wh-multiple questions
• wh-questions array
• adverb
• speaker-oriented adverbs
• persian