Namaeh Farhangistan

Namaeh Farhangistan

Word Order Typology in Pashto Language

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Associate Professor, Department of Pashto Language and Literature, Faculty of Language and Literature, Kabul University of Education, Kabul, Afghanistan
Abstract
In this study, the structure of Pashto language is examined from the perspective of language typology. The purpose of this research is to study the structure of Pashto language and compare it with the languages of Europe-Asia as well as world languages. This research is based on the 1992 article by Dryer and the book "Typology of Iranian Languages" (Dabir-Moghaddam, 1393) which examined Iranian languages based on 24 word order components. The data for this research was collected through fieldwork, observation, and interviews with speakers of Central (relatively standard) Pashto dialects. Dryer divided world languages into six geographical regions and examined the introduced components in the languages of each of these six geographical regions. In relation to each of the parameters (except parameter 23), he presented his observations in separate tables, which indicate the status of that component in the language group of each of the six world regions. Since Pashto language is associated with the Europe-Asia geography, the components of Pashto language were compared firstly with the languages of Europe-Asia and secondly with world languages. The results of this research show that compared to Europe-Asia languages, Pashto language with 16 strong final verb components and 15 strong medial verb components, falls into the category of languages with strong final verb component. Additionally, compared to world languages, Pashto language with 15 strong final verb components and 15 strong medial verb component shows a similar tendency between the categories of strong final verb and strong medial verb components.
Keywords
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References
Sources are in Persian unless otherwise specified.
Dabir-Moqaddam, Mohammad (2014), Typology of Iranian Languages, Tehran, Samt.
Niyazi, Rafiollah (2022), A Comparative Study of Aryan Language, Kabol, The Academy of Sciences.
Rasekh-Mahand, Mohammad (2014), A Syntactic Descriptive Dictionary, Tehran, Elmi.
Reshtin, Sadiqollah (1993), A Grammar of Pashto, Trans. Seyyed Mohiuddin Hashemi, Peshavar, University Book Agency.
Shafeev, D. A. (1973), Short Grammar of Pashto Language, Trans. Dowlat- Mohammad Ludin, Jalal Abad, Khatiz.
Zyar, Mojawar-Ahmad (2005), Pashto Grammar, Kabol, Danish.
Volume 25, Issue 4 - Serial Number 104
Nameh Farhangestan (Languages ​​and dialects of Iran)
September and October 2026
Pages 95-126

  • Receive Date 15 September 2025
  • Revise Date 13 October 2025
  • Accept Date 28 January 2026