Research

My research involves syntactic analysis of various constructions within the theoretical framework of Minimalist Program. My work has included the investigation of raising and control constructions, the role of specificity in syntax, DP constructions, and the examination of the interaction of word order and scrambling with discourse factors (topic and contrastive focus).

My current research interests include the study of the morphology, syntax and semantics of complex predicates, morphological and structural passive constructions, various types of ellipsis, cliticization and positioning of clitics, additive particles and their interpretations, and Ezafe construction. My main concern is to investigate the syntax-morphology, syntax-semantic, and syntax-discourse interactions in human Language.

The main language group I am interested in is the Iranian language family. I have conducted research on Persian, and have expanded my work to other Iranian languages in recent years, such as Sorani-Kurdish, Kurmanji, Zazaki, Lori, Baluchi, Mazandarani, Pashto, and Ossetian. My last NSF funded project (2019-2023) was concentrated on the syntax, morphology and phonology of five Iranian languages: Iranian Balochi, Ossetian (Iron), Pashto, Persian (specifically Farsi), and Sorani-Kurdish (specifically Ardalani).