SYNTACTIC CONFIGURATIONS OF X-BAR THEORY IN PASHTO

Abstract

This paper undertakes a syntactic analysis of X ′ theory in Pashto language. X ′ theory describes the syntactic configurations of noun phrases (NPs), prepositional phrases (PPs) and verb phrases (VPs). It
stipulates that every phrase in English is headed by a head word X ′ which stands for any variable and can take a phonological realization in the form of a noun, preposition or a verb. The head is brunched off into complements and adjuncts. Complements (ZP) arev sisters to the head and hence are obligatory. Adjuncts (YP), on other hand, are not immediately dominated by the head X ′ and hence are optional. The theory also introduces the functional term “specifier”which precedes the head in English. Based on the theory of analogy, the study examines the structures of English phrases in Pashto in the first half of the section. The second section delves into the syntactic configurations of X ′ theory in Pashto. The study concludes that unlike English, Pashto is a complement -first and head-final language. It, however, shows variation in future orientation structures wherein the head precedes the complement. The analysis of X ′ theory in Pashto provides a linguistic validity to the theory and proves its universal applicability.
Keywords: X ′ theory, Complements, Adjuncts, Specifier, Phrase Structure, Pashto Syntax