The Role of Time Reference in Explaining the Present Subjunctive Functions in Contemporary Farsi

In this research, in order to find a consistent explanation for all the uses of present subjunctive in Farsi, by relying on a corpus of 3000 sentences, we managed to extract and classify all the functions of present subjunctive. We concluded that present subjunctive is used both in the simple and (relative, adverbial and complementary clauses in) compound sentences. In the simple sentences as well as the relative clauses subjunctive making elements are usually considered to be semantic. The subjunctive making elements in complementary and adverbial clauses are the main clause verb and linking word respectively. The paper also employs Comrie (1985) and Reichenbach’s (1947) tripartite distinction between speech time, event time, and reference time to show that present subjunctive has relative time. And also by choosing Darzi and Kwak (2015) approach in explaining the present subjunctive functions in complimentary clauses, we discussed its function in simple, relative and adverbial clauses in compound sentences. We concluded that reference time in simple and relative clauses is simultaneous with the speech time; such that these kinds of verbs necessarily refer to present or future. In the complementary clauses the main clause verb is considered to be the reference time of the present subjunctive verb. Reference time in the adverbial clauses, depending on the linking word, may be simultaneous with the speech time or main verb time. Whether the reference time is simultaneous with the speech time or main verb time, the subjunctive verb has got a “relative non-past time”. In the other words, compared to the reference time it refers to the future or present.
 
1. Introduction
In linguistics, Modality is a phenomenon through which grammar allows talking about situations that are not essentially real. In other words, modality is a grammatical and semantic category which explains the speaker’s attitude regarding the proposition and generally shows realis/irrealis distinction. The right way to discover modality is to begin with some of the features of language which most obviously involve modality. In all typological studies, there is a considerable variation in the ways in which languages deal with this category. Verbal mood is one of these ways which appears in the structure of the verb. Mood is an aspect of linguistic form which indicates how a proposition is used in the expression of a modal meaning. Modal forms are divided into three categories: sentential modality, sub-sentential modality and discourse modality. Verbal mood is included within sub-sentential modality. Sub-sentential modality operates below the level of proposition expressed by a complete sentence. It includes modal adjectives, modal nouns, propositional attitude verbs (verbs which take an argument which expresses a proposition), verbal mood, and infinitives among other types. Root and subordinate clauses with different verbal moods can be used to help represent various cognitive states and mental events, such as beliefs, desires, and dreams (Portner, 2009). Among the three distinctions of declarative, subjunctive and imperative verbal mood, the current study reviews the present subjunctive uses in positive sentences.
 
 2. Theoretical Framework
Reichenbach (1947) refers to three points of “speech time”, “event time” and “reference time” to determine time implications. Time has a deictic nature, and speech time is its reference point. In other words, relying on speech time, in all languages the time is divided into past, present and future. As Comrie has mentioned (1985), absolute time is a time that to determine we just need speech time and event time (as for absolute time, reference time and speech time are the same). However, this is not the case in all situations and if reference time point is defined by context or another element, we would have a Relative Time. In this study, relying on the threefold division suggested by Reichenbach and the difference between Absolute and Relative Time put by Comrie (1985), and also following the approach of Darzi and Kwak (2015) in determining subjunctive uses relying on the time implications, we review the uses of this mood in simple sentences and relative clauses and adverbial clauses of compound sentences.
 
3. Methodology
The first step in this study was to extract and categorize all the applications of subjunctive mood in the contemporary Persian language. Thus, initially a corpus including 6 screenplays and volumes 326, 345 and 346 of Movafaghiat magazine were selected. Then, about 3,000 sentences were extracted in which present subjunctive was used. After that, based on the aforementioned theoretical framework, the data about the subjunctive mood were analyzed.
 
4. Results & Discussion
The results indicate that subjunctive present is used both in simple sentences and in relative clauses, complement clauses and adverbial clauses of compound sentences; however, the frequency of using subjunctive present in complement and adverbial clauses is much more than relative clauses and simple sentences. Simple sentences with subjunctive mood could be divided into three semantic groups: wishful, advising, and interrogative. In these sentences, “subjunctive making element” is necessarily semantic. However, in complement and adverbial clauses, respectively, the main verb and the conjunctive are subjunctive elements. Moreover, the adverbial clauses in which subjunctive verb is used, based on the semantic features of their conjunctives are divided into various groups, including adverbial clauses of time, purpose, negation, substitution, condition, etc.
 
 5. Conclusions & Suggestions
In this research, in order to find a consistent explanation for all the uses of present subjunctive in Persian, by relying on a corpus of 3000 sentences, while considering the difference between relative time and absolute time, it was concluded that reference time in simple and relative clauses is simultaneous with the speech time; such that these kinds of verbs necessarily refer to present or future. The subjunctive making elements in complement and adverbial clauses are the main clause verb and conjunction respectively. However, the reference time in adverbial clauses, depending on the conjunction, may be equal to the speech time or time of the main verb. Whether the reference time is simultaneous with the speech time or main verb time, the subjunctive verb has got a “relative non-past time”. In other words, compared to the reference time, it refers to the future or present (non-past).
 
Select Bibliography
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