Comparative Linguistic Research

Comparative Linguistic Research

Implications of the Lenition of the Initial Consonant /b/ in Kermanshahi Persian Verbs

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mehdi Fattahi 1
Tahereh Jafari 2
samira Ahmadi Varmazani 2
1 Department of English Language and Linguistics, Razi University
2 The Department of English Language and Linguistics, The Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
10.22084/rjhll.2025.31106.2377
Abstract
Kermanshahi Persian is a variety of the Persian language spoken in the city of Kermanshah. Enjoying the principles of Serial Optimality Theory, the present study focuses on the lenition of the initial consonant /b/ in verbs and its following implications. The relevant data were collected through 20 hours of interviews with 12 male and female speakers of Kermanshahi Persian living in Kermanshah. After being phonetically transcribed, the data were analyzed within the framework of Serial Optimality. The analysis shows that following lenition as the initial change, derivation leads to two different paths depending on whether the resulting vowel and glide are within the same syllable or in two separate syllables: one path results in the verb “to be” turning into a clitic, leading to a reduction in syllable count; the other leads to a form that permits the application of complete assimilation with the newly formed glide.
Keywords
Lenition
Deletion
Assimilation
Serial Optimality Theory
Kermanshahi Persian