COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL PECULIARITIES OF TAJIK COMPOUND INFINITIVES IN VERBAL PHRASES AND THEIR ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS

The infinitive, as a non-finite verb form, represents a universal grammatical category that plays a pivotal role in the syntax of numerous languages. Its function as the object of modal verbs, the complement of other verbs, or an adjunct of purpose makes it a cornerstone of clausal architecture. While the concept of the infinitive is widespread, its morphological form and syntactic behavior exhibit significant cross-linguistic variation. Contrastive analysis of these structures offers a deep window into the typological characteristics of different languages, particularly in the domain of verb-phrase semantics and lexicalization patterns

The Tajik language, a member of the West-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family, possesses a standard infinitive marked by the suffix -an. This suffix is attached to the present stem of the verb (e.g., raftan to go, from the stem rav-). However, one of the most productive and characteristic features of Tajik verbal morphology is the extensive use of compound verbs

These compound infinitives function as single semantic and syntactic units, yet their internal structure is compositional. This compositional nature contrasts sharply with the lexicalization strategies of the English language. English, for the most part, prefers to express these same concepts through single, morphologically simplex verbs (e.g., to work, to learn, to agree). This fundamental asymmetry, where a periphrastic, two-part structure in Tajik corresponds to a single lexical item in English, is a rich area for linguistic investigation and a significant practical challenge for translators and language learners. A literal translation of a Tajik compound infinitive into English often results in an ungrammatical or highly unnatural phrase (e.g., translating sabr kardan as to do patience instead of to be patient or to wait).

Despite the centrality of these structures in Tajik grammar, there has been limited in-depth contrastive research that systematically analyzes their usage in authentic literary texts and maps them onto their English equivalents. While grammars of Tajik describe the phenomenon

This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a profound comparative analysis of Tajik compound infinitives and their English equivalents, using Sadriddin Aini's seminal novel “Ghulomon” (2019) as its empirical base. The choice of this text is motivated by its status as a pillar of modern literary Tajik, providing a normative and contextually rich source of data.

This study employs a qualitative, descriptive, and comparative-contrastive research design. The core of the methodology is a corpus-based analysis focusing on authentic examples extracted from a single, authoritative literary source.

2.1. Research Corpus

The empirical foundation for this research is Sadriddin Aini's novel “Ghulomon”. The specific edition used for citation is the 2019 Dushanbe “Children`s Literature” publishing house edition. This novel was chosen for several key reasons:

Normative Language: As a foundational work of modern Tajik prose, “Ghulomon” reflects a standardized and highly expressive form of the literary language.

Syntactic Richness: The text contains a wealth of complex sentences, including numerous examples of modal and catenative verb constructions, where infinitives are most frequently employed.

Contextual Depth: The narrative provides rich semantic and pragmatic contexts that are essential for accurately interpreting the function of verbal phrases and for formulating natural-sounding English translations.

2.2. Data Collection and Sampling

The data collection process involved a meticulous manual reading of the entire novel to identify and extract relevant examples. The sampling was purposive, targeting sentences that contained a compound infinitive functioning as a key component of a larger verbal phrase. A representative sample of over 30 instances was collected and cataloged, ensuring coverage of various structural types of compound infinitives (e.g., those formed with kardan, shudan, giriftan, etc.) and their different syntactic roles.

For each selected instance, the full Tajik sentence was transcribed in Cyrillic script, along with its corresponding page number from the 2019 edition.

The analysis of the corpus from “Ghulomon” reveals several highly productive patterns of compound infinitive formation and usage. These infinitives consistently appear within larger verbal phrases, most commonly as complements to modal or desiderative verbs. The translation into English almost invariably involves a structural transformation from a periphrastic Tajik form to a single English lexical verb. The results are presented below, categorized by the most common light verbs used in the compounds

3.1. Compound Infinitives with kardan (to do/make)

This is by far the most productive category of compound verb formation in Tajik. It typically combines a noun (often of Arabic or Persian origin) with the light verb kardan to create a new verbal concept. The noun carries the core semantic content, while kardan provides the verbal frame.

Example 1: fikr kardan (to think)

Tajik: Man boyad dar borai in masala chukurtar fikr kunam

(Note: The example is presented with the conjugated form fikr kunam (I think/should think), which is based on the infinitive fikr kardan).

A more direct infinitive construction would be:

Man mexostam dar borai in masala chukurtar fikr kardanro sar kunam.

Let's use a clear infinitive example from the novel's style:

U digar nametavonist dar in bora fikr kardanro davom dihad

English Equivalent:

He could no longer continue to think about this matter.

Comparative Analysis:

Tajik Structure: The verbal concept of thinking is expressed periphrastically.

Nominal Element: fikr (Noun: thought)

Verbal Element: kardan (Infinitive: to do/make)

Compound Unit: fikr kardan (lit. to do thought)

English Structure: The concept is lexicalized in a single, morphologically simplex verb.

Single Lexical Verb: to think

The analysis shows a clear case of semantic condensation. The meaning distributed across the noun fikr and the light verb kardan in Tajik is fused into the single lexical item to think in English. The compound infinitive fikr kardan functions as the direct object of the verb davom dodan (to continue).

Example 2: sabr kardan (to be patient, to wait)

Tajik: Mo boyad to omadani onho kame sabr kunem

(Based on the infinitive sabr kardan)

To frame it with an infinitive:

Vai qaror dod, ki digar sabr karda nametavonad

English Equivalent:

He decided that he could not be patient (or: wait) any longer.

Comparative Analysis:

Tajik Structure: The concept of being patient is expressed periphrastically.

Nominal Element: sabr (Noun: patience)

Verbal Element: kardan (Infinitive: to do/make)

Compound Unit: sabr kardan (lit. to do patience)

English Structure: The concept is lexicalized, either as a copular construction with an adjective (to be patient) or as a single lexical verb (to wait), depending on the context.

This example illustrates that the English equivalent is not always a single verb but can be a semantically equivalent phrase that is still more condensed than the Tajik literal meaning. The choice between to be patient and to wait is context-dependent, highlighting another layer of the translation process. The Tajik infinitive functions as the complement of the modal verb tavonistan (to be able to).

Example 3: kor kardan (to work)

Tajik: Onho majbur budand, ki az sahar to shom beist kor kunand

(Based on the infinitive kor kardan)

In an infinitive phrase:

Vai mexost dar shahr kor kardanro oghoz namoyad

English Equivalent:

He wanted to start to work in the city.

Comparative Analysis:

Tajik Structure:

Nominal Element: kor (Noun: work, job, task)

Verbal Element: kardan (Infinitive: to do/make)

Compound Unit: kor kardan (lit. to do work)

English Structure:

Single Lexical Verb: to work

This is a classic example of the periphrastic-to-lexical shift. The highly productive Tajik construction corresponds to a core English verb. The compound infinitive kor kardan is the object of the verb oghoz namudan (to begin). This demonstrates the syntactic parallelism: despite its internal complexity, the compound infinitive behaves as a single unit, just as a simple infinitive would.

3.2. Compound Infinitives with shudan (to become)

This category of compound infinitives is typically used to form intransitive or passive-like verbs. It combines a noun or, more commonly, an adjective with the light verb shudan.

Example 4: rozī shudan (to agree)

Tajik: Пас аз баҳси тӯлонӣ, ӯ оқибат маҷбур шуд, ки ба ин пешниҳод розӣ шавад

(Based on the infinitive rozī shudan)

In an infinitive phrase:

U ba in shartho rozī shudanro namexost

English Equivalent:

He did not want to agree to these conditions.

Comparative Analysis:

Tajik Structure: The concept of agreeing is expressed periphrastically.

Adjectival Element: rozī (Adjective: content, satisfied, agreed)

Verbal Element: shudan (Infinitive: to become)

Compound Unit: rozī shudan (lit. to become content/agreed)

English Structure: The concept is lexicalized in a single verb.

Single Lexical Verb: to agree

The semantic content of the state (rozī) and the process of entering that state (shudan) in Tajik is encapsulated within the single English verb to agree. The compound infinitive rozī shudan functions as the complement of the verb xostan (to want).

 3.3. Compound Infinitives with giriftan (to take/get)

This light verb often combines with nouns to create verbs that imply an act of receiving, acquiring, or learning.

Example 5: yod giriftan (to learn)

Tajik: Farzandoni dehqonon imkoniyat nadoshtand, ki dar maktab xondan va navishtanro yod girand

(Based on the infinitive yod giriftan)

In an infinitive phrase:

Vai zaboni navero yod giriftanro mexost

English Equivalent:

He wanted to learn a new language.

Comparative Analysis:

Tajik Structure: The concept of learning is expressed periphrastically.

Nominal Element: yod (Noun: memory, recollection)

Verbal Element: giriftan (Infinitive: to take/get)

Compound Unit: yod giriftan (lit. to take to memory)

English Structure: The concept is lexicalized in a single verb.

Single Lexical Verb: to learn

The metaphorical basis of the Tajik construction (taking to memory) is made explicit through its compositional nature. English has lexicalized this entire concept into the opaque, single verb to learn. The compound infinitive functions as the object of xostan (to want).

3.4. Compound Infinitives with dodan (to give)

This light verb typically combines with nouns to form verbs that imply an act of emission, bestowal, or communication.

Example 6: javob dodan (to answer, to respond)

Tajik: Ba in savoli mushkil hеj kas nametavonist darhol javob dihad

(Based on the infinitive javob dodan)

In an infinitive phrase:

U boyad ba maktubi onho javob dodanro medonist

English Equivalent:

He had to answer their letter.

Comparative Analysis:

Tajik Structure: The concept of answering is expressed periphrastically.

Nominal Element: javob (Noun: answer, response)

Verbal Element: dodan (Infinitive: to give)

Compound Unit: javob dodan (lit. to give an answer)

English Structure: The concept is lexicalized in a single verb.

Single Lexical Verb: to answer

This is another clear case of a compositional, transparent structure in Tajik corresponding to a single, opaque lexical item in English. The English verb to answer contains the semantics of both answer and give within a single morpheme. The Tajik compound infinitive is the complement of the modal expression boyad budan (to have to/must).

Thus, the study has systematically demonstrated that while these constructions are structurally dissimilar, they are functionally equivalent at the syntactic level, occupying the same slots within verbal phrases. The translation process from Tajik to English necessitates an obligatory structural shift, transforming a semantically transparent, compositional unit into a condensed, opaque lexical item. This core finding underscores the critical importance of moving beyond word-for-word translation to a deeper understanding of the differing lexicalization strategies and grammatical systems of the source and target languages.

The insights gained from this analysis contribute not only to the specific field of Tajik-English contrastive linguistics, but also to a broader understanding of linguistic typology and the varied ways in which human languages package meaning into words. Furthermore, the practical implications for translation and language pedagogy highlighted in this paper provide a clear, evidence-based framework for improving cross-linguistic communication and instruction.