Lexical Aspect in Persian: A Study based on Scalar Theory

The lexical aspect of contemporary Persian was studied in this article. The data which were extracted from Farhang-i-buzurg-i-soxan (Anvari, 2007) were investigated based on scalar approach. The traditional theories cannot differentiate and explain various aspectual events because of inadequate binary aspectual features. The investigation of data showed that scalar theory along with traditional features like [± duration], [± dynamicity], and [± telicity] provides a more comprehensive aspectual classification and clearer explanation of Persian verbs and events. The traditional theories cannot account for verbs of degree achievements which have the dual [+ telic] and [- telic] aspectual behavior. By following the scalar approach, Persian verbs are classified into scalar (open and closed) and non-scalar (semelfactive and activity) categories. The non-scalar activity and semelfactive verbs are respectively durative and punctual events. The open scalar verbs show the dual telicity whereas the closed ones have [+ telic] feature. The closed scalar verbs are classified into two-point scalar and multi-point scalar events. These two categories differ from each other based on the [± durative] feature. The two-point scalar verbs show punctual changes while the multi-point scalar ones undergo durative changes to achieve the endpoint.