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Article published In: Review of Cognitive Linguistics
Vol. 24:1 (2026) ► pp.31–62

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Possessive construction in the Kurdish language

A cognitive perspective

ORCiD logo with link | University of Kurdistan
ORCiD logo with link | Damghan University
ORCiD logo with link | University of Kurdistan
Published online: 2 April 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00181.deh
Abstract
The present study investigates Possessive Constructions and domains of possession in Kalhori Kurdish (KK) from a Cognitive Linguistics perspective to reveal the arrangement of constituents and relationships between the head (possessee) and dependent (possessor). This qualitative descriptive-analytical study collected data by interviewing KK speakers in Iran. The results indicate that KK speakers employ both the B-construction (­hin-e­) and Be-construction (ha) at the clause level to denote predicative possession characterized by [−whole-part, −kinship] relationships and [+alienable] ownership. Additionally, KK speakers were found to utilize the H-construction (/dire/) at the clause level associated with [+whole-part, +kinship] relationships and [±alienable] ownership. KK speakers also employ possession splits in nominal/attributive possession by attaching the possessor, marked by the [+human] feature, to the possessee, marked by the [±human] feature, as an affix.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction and background
  • 2.A brief note on previous work
  • 3.Theoretical framework
    • 3.1Possessive event schema
  • 4.Research methodology
  • 5.Possession in Kurdish
    • 5.1Inalienable and alienable possession
    • 5.2Be-construction
    • 5.3Fluidity of possession
    • 5.4Belonging construction
    • 5.5The event schemata as sources of construction in KK
      • 5.5.1Action schema
      • 5.5.2Location schema
      • 5.5.3Companion schema
        • 5.5.3.1Be-construction
        • 5.5.3.2H-construction
        • 5.5.3.3Emphasis on companion relationship
      • 5.5.4Genitive schema
        • 5.5.4.1NP/AP construction
        • 5.5.4.2H-construction
        • 5.5.4.3Splits in the domain of NP/AP
      • 5.5.5Goal schema
        • 5.5.5.1Beneficiary in the B-construction
        • 5.5.5.2Social possession
        • 5.5.5.3Beneficiary with ʔæra (‘for’)
        • 5.5.5.4Restrictions on use
      • 5.5.6Source schema
        • 5.5.6.1Marking the source
      • 5.5.7Topic schema
        • 5.5.7.1Topicalization of Pr
        • 5.5.7.2Social possession
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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