On Determiner Phrase Analysis in English and Central Kurdish

A Comparative-Generative Study

Authors

  • Sairan Abdullah Hamad Department of English, College of Education, University of Raparin, Ranya, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
  • Salih Ibrahim Ahmed Department of English, College of Education, University of Raparin, Ranya, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26750/xapbp102

Keywords:

Generative, DP, Central Kurdish, (In)Definite, Determiner.

Abstract

     The paper explores the determiner phrase analysis in English and Central Kurdish from a comparative-generative perspective. It specifically focuses on the structure of determiner phrase within the X-bar theory to examine whether the construction of determiner phrase can be applied in the same way in both languages or not. The X-bar theory deals with the structure and components of different phrase types with determining the right position for each of the components according to the phrase type. Also, one of the aspects of generative grammar is ‘Principles & Parameters’ which suggests that while languages share universal principles, they vary according to specific parameters. In this way, the existence of different phrase types is universal among languages, but the structure and the components of each phrase are parameters as each language have its own construction with respect to have some similarities with another language. On this basis, the research aims to investigate the structure of determiner phrase depending of the Determiner Phrase Analysis (DPA) in English and Central Kurdish in the light of X-bar theory. The data used in the paper is formal written language in both languages. The core question of the research is that whether the determiner phrase analysis is applicable in both languages or not. One of the remarkable conclusions is that the determiner phrase analysis is applicable in both languages with specific constructions and elements according to the form of the phrase in each language. Moreover, the study shows that some phenomena, such as Izafe construction, exist in CK, while it is not found in English.

References

Ahmed, S. (2018). A Generative Study of Possessive Constructions in English and Central Kurdish.

Doctoral Dissertation. Salaheddin University- Erbil

Aziz, H. (2024). Izafe Construction in Kurdish. Salaheddin University- Erbil

Barker, C. (1995). Possessive Descriptions. Stanford: CSLI

Bernstein, J. B (2008) Reformulating the Determiner Phrase Analysis (Vol.2 , No.6). (p. 1246-1270)

Bernstein, J. B. (2001). The DP hypothesis: identifying clausal properties in the nominal domain.

In M. Baltin, & C. Collins (Eds.). The handbook of contemporary syntactic theory (pp. 536-561).

Malden: Blackwell Publishing

Bernstein, J. B., & Tortora, C. (2005). Two types of possessive forms in English. Lingua 115 (1221-

1242)

Carnie, A. (2013). Syntax: A Generative Introduction (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell: UK

Chomsky, N. (1957/2002). Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton

Chomsky, N. (1986a). Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin and Use. New York: Praeger

Chomsky, N. (1986b). Barriers. Cambridge: MIT Press

Chomsky, N. (2006). Language and mind (3rd ed.). Cambridge: CUP

Coene, M., & D‘hulst, Y. (2003). From NP to DP: the syntax and semantics of noun phrases (vol.

1). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing

Cook, V. J., & Newson, M. (2007). Chomsky’s universal grammar: an introduction (3rd ed.).

Malden: Blackwell Publishing

Dehgan, M. & Hasar, R. (2021). Ezafe Construction in Kurdish: A Cognitive Approach. Journals

System (Vol. 12, No. 6) (pp. 187-230)

Deming, M. & Helong, T. (2024). The Development of Chomskyan Generative Grammar. New

York: Routledge

Fattah, M. M. (1997). A generative grammar of Kurdish. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of

Amsterdam

Ferhadi, S. (2013). Some Aspects of Kurdish language Sentence Structure. Erbil: Haji Hashim Press

Greenbaum, S. & Nelson, G. (2016). An Introduction to English Grammar (4th ed.). Routledge:

New York

Haegeman, L. (1994). Introduction to government & binding theory (2nd ed.). Malden: Blackwell

Publishing

Karimi, Y.(2007). Kurdish Izafe Construction: Implications for DP Structure. Tehran: Allameh

Tabatabaii University. Lingua 117 (2159-2177)

Lyons, C. (1999). Definiteness. Cambridge: CUP

Mahwi, M. (2010). Basics of Kurdish Syntax 1st ed. Sulaimani: University of Sulaimani

Mahwi, M. (2010). Şkandnaway Krdar 2nd ed. University of Sulaimani

Master, P. (2013). A contrastive Study of Determiner Usage in EST Research Articles. International

Journal of Language Studies (Vol. 7, No.1) (pp.33-58)

Newson, M. (2006). Basic English Syntax with Exercises. Budapest: Bölcsész Konzorcium

Qadir, A. (2015). Ɍèkewtny Sintaksy le Zimany Kurdi u Farsida. Master Dissertation. University of

Sulaimani

Qadir, S. (2009). Hendè Layeny Ɍèzmany Desełat u Bestnewey (GB) le Zimany Kurdida. Çapxaney

Haci Haşm: Hewlèr

Radford, A. (2004b). Minimalist syntax. Cambridge: CUP

Radford, A. (2004b). Minimalist syntax. Cambridge: UK

Rashid, T. (2015). Ɍonany Frèz le Zary Kirmanci Nawerast u Kirmanci Juruda. Master Dissertation.

University of Sulaimani

Salzmann, M. (2020). The NP vs. DP Debate. Glossa a Journal of General Linguistics (Vol.5, No. 1).

(pp.1-46)

Sampson, G. (1980). Schools of linguistics. London: Hutchinson Group

Storto, G. (2000). On the structure of Indefinite Possessives. In B. Jackson, & T. Mathews (Eds.).

Proceedings of semantics and linguistics theory X (pp. 1-18). New York: CLC Publications

Tahir, R. (2018). The Structure of DP in Central Kurdish. Doctoral Dissertation. Newcastle

University

Winter, Y. (2000). DP Structure and Flexible Semantics. North East Linguistic Society (Vol.30,

No.21) (pp.710-731)

Published

2025-10-29

Issue

Section

Humanities & Social Sciences

How to Cite

On Determiner Phrase Analysis in English and Central Kurdish: A Comparative-Generative Study. (2025). Journal of University of Raparin, 12(5), 1126-1148. https://doi.org/10.26750/xapbp102