Possessive Constructions in Central Kurdish: A Cognitive Grammar Account

Abstract

This paper seeks to study possessive   constructions in CK henceforth from the cognitive grammar perspective. One of the tenets of construal theory is that the speakers of a language deploy alternate constructions to express different conceptual contents. To do so, the humans use construal mechanism to portray and interpret a certain scene from their perspectives. To achieve the objective of the present paper, we apply reference point model, Construal and Figure and ground theories to CK possessive constructions. Possessive constructions are relational structures established by human mental ability to invoke one entity as the reference point and relate it to another entity which is described as the profile determinant. In applying construal theory to CK possessive construction, we argue that different interpretations can be assumed from ezafe (-i) and possessive clitics in conveying possession. With the application of these three theories, a new perspective has been put forward to possessive constructions in CK.