STRUCTURAL DECOMPOSITION OF PASHTO PATH PS

Sardaraz  Khan; Kainat

doi:10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp168-195

Sardaraz Khan University of Science & Technology, Bannu, 28100, Bannu Township, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8345-8962
Kainat Department of English, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3039-5424

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp168-195

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Past studies categorized Pashto prepositions as pre-position, post-position and ambi-position on the basis of their syntactical position in a unit of grammar. This paper aims to analyze the Pashto path prepositions and to find out its syntactic differences from other major languages, particularly English.

Methodology: A data corpus consisted of 245 clauses and sentences collected from Pashto grammar books was analysed using a nanosyntax approach, following Pantcheva and Svenonius’ decomposition of Path Ps and Place Ps where the terminal nodes of Pashto path Ps in the data were identified.

Findings: The findings revealed that Pashto Path Ps exhibited Pantcheva’s eight functional semantic heads, but its complexity due to ambiposition and precedence of place Ps over path Ps in complex phrases required adjustments in Pantcheva and Svenonius’ syntactical models to harness the complex patterns of Pashto prepositional system. Moreover, the headedness of PPs in Pashto is flexible, as it can be both head initial and head final.

Contributions: This paper not only contributes to the existing literature on Pashto Path Ps but also reflects that the existing syntactic models may further be enriched by their application to cross linguistic data. This paper suggests further studies into Pashto prepositions from other syntactic and semantic perspectives such as nanosyntax algebraic models and iconicity which will not only contribute to the understanding of Pashto grammar and syntax but also to learning Pashto as a second language and translating it.

Keywords: Preposition, post position, ambiposition, Path Ps, Place Ps.

Cite as: Sardaraz, K., & Kainat. (2022). Structural decomposition of Pashto path Ps. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(1), 168-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp168-195

Author Biographies

Sardaraz Khan, University of Science & Technology, Bannu, 28100, Bannu Township, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Khan, Sardaraz did his master in English literature from the Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, and achieved PhD from the Faculty of Language and Communication Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia. The Author is currently serving as the Registrar and Director ORIC in University of Science & Technology, Bannu, Pakistan.

Kainat, Department of English, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Kainat did her Bachelor in English at the University of Science & Technology, Bannu, and is currently enrolled in M.Phil in English at the Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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