- AN ATTEMPT AT EXPLAINING SOME MORPHOSYNTACTIC PHENOMENA OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN THE LIGHT OF COMPETING LINGUISTIC TENDENCIES

Abstract

 It is argued that some morphosyntactic phenomena of the Armenian language which have not yet received due explanation within the frameworks of the traditional Armenian linguistics are accounted for in the light of cognitively motivated competing linguistic tendencies and certain psychological motivating factors. As is well-known, due to presence of the compe­ting motivations in grammar and usage, the directionality of a particular diachronic change and the eventual choice of the resulting synchronic morphosyntactic pattern may vary across languages. Accordingly, the relevant synchronic and diachronic evidence of the Armenian language allows us to determine to a greater or lesser extent which of the competing linguistic tendencies (and/or of the motivating factors) has been decisive in each particular case. Sometimes, the joint effect of a number of motivating factors is responsible for the appearance of the given synchronic pattern as is the case, for example, with the doublet forms of the Prohibitive singular of certain verbs in Modern Eastern Armenian.