Tripartite-Like Alignment, DSM, and DOM in Tati, Taleshi, and Kurmanji Kurdish: A Typological & Functional Perspective

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author

Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Tripartite alignment, a system where intransitive subjects (S), transitive agents (A), and transitive objects (O) each receive distinct case marking, is rare across the world's languages. While Tati, Taleshi, and Kurmanji Kurdish do not exhibit full tripartite alignment, they display tripartite-like effects under specific syntactic, semantic, and discourse conditions. Additionally, these languages feature Differential Subject Marking (DSM) and Differential Object Marking (DOM), creating complex case-marking asymmetries. This study provides a typological and functional analysis of these patterns, exploring their structural classification, discourse functions, and contact-induced change. By comparative analysis, we examine how these Northwestern Iranian languages fit into broader alignment typologies, the grammatical and semantic factors influencing case-marking, and the role of functional pressures such as animacy, definiteness, and topicality. Findings reveal that alignment in these languages is flexible rather than fixed, challenging traditional linguistic classifications. Case-marking changes reflect both discourse needs and external influences, as Persian, Azerbaijani, and Turkish reshape these systems. This research contributes to our understanding of case-marking asymmetries in Iranian languages, emphasizing the role of discourse factors and language contact in shaping alignment.

Keywords


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