A Look at the Functions of Two Morphemes acting as a Definite Article and an Expression of Regret in the Tati Dialect of Khalkhāl

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Rasht. Branch, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

In Tati language, a Northwest Iranian language, there are many ancient elements and structures that are being neglected these days. In this article, two morphemes (lə- and me-) of Tati's morphemes based on the Dəravī dialect (from Shāhrūd dialects of Khalkhāl) are examined. The research question in this article addresses the function of these two morphemes. The linguistic evidence examined in this paper shows that lə- morpheme in surnames and pet names is a sign of admiration and intimacy; in some cases, it acts as definite article, and in some contexts, it is a derivative and a noun-making element. The regret morpheme me- is another morpheme reviewed in this paper. The results of the research show that this morpheme must be a combination of the first-person non-subjective connected pronoun and the interjection -e(y). This morpheme is used in a) mourning context; b) a traumatic event and a tragedy; c) surprise or ridicule. However, evidently, the main function of this morpheme was for mourning.

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