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Comparative constructions of equality in Ossetic
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Comparative constructions of equality in Ossetic
Annotation
PII
10.31857/0373-658X.2023.6.49-66
DOI
10.31857/0373-658X.2023.6.49-66
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Yulia Sinitsyna 
Affiliation:
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russia, Moscow
Edition
Issue 6
Pages
49-66
Abstract

The study deals with equative (‘Mary is as tall as Peter’) and similative (‘Mary sings like Peter’) constructions in the Iron dialect of Ossetic. I focus on the morphosyntactic and semantic features of constructions with Standard markers -aw and χʷəžзn. The morphosyntactic criteria I am using are the part of speech of the Standard of comparison (Peter) as well as the syntactic position of the Comparee (Mary). As for the semantics, I am looking at the type of the construction — equative, similative, or predicative (She is like her sister) — and at the referential status of the Standard of comparison (specific or generic). With both markers, the Comparee can occupy a rather low syntactic position. The Standard of comparison can also be a non-finite verb form, apart from a noun phrase. The main difference between the two Standard markers is their semantics. The equative case -aw tends to be used in similative constructions and expresses a comparison of manner. The predominance of generic Standards in constructions with -aw can be explained by the scope of comparison. Referring to a predicate, the -aw form modifies an action or attribute, comparing it with another action or attribute. Comparison of the two situations as a whole allows -aw to be combined with specific Standards, which turned out to be less acceptable otherwise. The postposition χʷəžзn can occur both in equative and similative constructions; in addition, it can mark a Standard used as an attribute of the Comparee.

Keywords
comparison,Iranian,Ossetic
Acknowledgment

The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 22-28-01639.

Received
15.08.2023
Date of publication
22.12.2023
Number of purchasers
8
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62
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