Finite degree of complement clauses in Persian (Based on Givon’s framework)

Abstract

This article is intended to examine the relationship between the control of the matrix verb and finite degree of its complement, in Persian language. Givon (1980) has argued that in control structures in English, a greater degree of control of the matrix clause over its complement clause (semantic feature), leads to the nonfinite aspect of the complement clause (syntactic feature). In other words, Givon notes that the choice of complement in control structures reflects its semantic relationship to the matrix clause verb. In this study, it is examined that the degree of structural integration between a complement and a matrix verb roughly correlates to the semantic integration. It is showed that in Persian like in English, the complement clause which is headed by a nonfinite form is the result of a high degree of the main clause verb’s control. In contrast, the complement clause structure is finite in low control verbs.