a note for 'syntax + hindi' study

Created in May 31, 2025

2025   ·   grammar   syntax   scrambling   complex   predicates   agreement   polarity   ·   theo-linguistics   hi-linguistics

Hindi, being a relatively underexplored language in formal syntactic theory, presents rich opportunities to test, refine, or reformulate syntactic assumptions. The intersection of Syntax and Hindi is a fertile ground for both theoretical innovation and empirical depth. Here are emerging or underexploited areas of research that can guide seminars and research in the coming five years:


1. Scrambling and Word Order Flexibility

Hindi’s relatively free word order, driven by scrambling, offers a natural laboratory to explore syntactic operations beyond English SVO rigidity. Key questions involve:

  • What are the constraints on scrambling?
  • Does scrambling have interpretive effects (e.g., focus, topic, contrast)?
  • Can Hindi scrambling challenge minimalist assumptions about movement?


2. Complex Predicates and Light Verbs

Hindi extensively uses light verb constructions (e.g., khā liyā, likh diyā). These can be used to explore:

  • Argument structure variation
  • Verb serialization and compositional semantics
  • Syntactic projection of aspectual and agentive features


3. Differential Object Marking (DOM)

The optional accusative marker -ko in Hindi offers rich data for:

  • The syntax of case marking
  • Animacy and definiteness effects
  • Typological parallels and theoretical challenges to Case Theory
Note: In DOM, the term "differential" refers to the phenomenon where not all direct objects in a language are marked in the same way—some receive special morphological marking (like the Hindi postposition -ko) based on certain features of the object. In Hindi, for example:
  • Maine ek kitāb paṛhī. (I read a book.) → kitāb is unmarked.
  • Maine Rām-ko dekha. (I saw Ram.) → Rām is marked with -ko.
The difference (hence “differential”) depends on properties such as:
  • Animacy: animate objects are more likely to be marked.
  • Definiteness: definite/specific objects tend to be marked.
  • Topicality or affectedness: marked if the object is emphasized or topical.

So, “differential” captures the idea that "object marking is not uniform" —it varies "systematically" depending on semantic or pragmatic features.


4. Agreement Patterns and Feature Geometry

Hindi displays interesting agreement asymmetries, especially with ergative constructions and object agreement in perfective clauses:

  • What does Hindi agreement reveal about the directionality of Agree?
  • Can Hindi challenge standard assumptions about phi-features?


5. Wh-questions and Clause Typing

Hindi employs sentence-final wh-elements and lacks overt complementizers in many embedded clauses:

  • What syntactic mechanisms allow clause-typing?
  • Can Hindi offer a different model for interrogative clause formation?


6. Negation, Modality, and Polarity Items

The interaction between negation (nahī̃), polarity-sensitive items, and modals in Hindi has implications for:

  • Syntax-semantics interface
  • Scope ambiguity
  • Licensing conditions for NPIs and their syntactic positions


7. Relative Clauses and Correlatives

Hindi uses correlative structures (e.g., jo…vo…) rather than internally headed relative clauses:

  • What does this mean for head-dependency relations?
  • Can correlatives inform syntactic theories of left-periphery or CP structure?


8. Syntax of Evidentiality and Reported Speech

Hindi uses lexical items (e.g., kyā, to, lagtā hai) to express epistemic status and source of information. Studying this domain syntactically and semantically can enrich:

  • The theory of propositional attitude verbs
  • The role of syntax in evidential interpretation


9. Tense-Aspect Systems and Perfectivity

Hindi’s split ergativity and aspect-driven agreement offer critical data for:

  • Temporal anchoring in clause structure
  • Aspectual auxiliary syntax
  • Interface of morphology and syntax


10. Formal Grammar of Hindi (LFG, HPSG, CG, Minimalism)

Developing formally annotated treebanks and rule sets for Hindi using modern grammar formalisms will contribute to both linguistic theory and computational modeling. More


Conclusion: A Five-Year Research Vision

I welcome scholars and researchers interested in collaborating on these ten topics. This work will adhere strictly to the outlined ideas and will further involve:

  • Organizing thematic seminars and workshops to explore these topics in depth.
  • Developing formal grammars of Hindi, incorporating syntactic frameworks such as Minimalism, LFG, or CCG.
  • Contributing to the creation of computational resources that enhance Hindi syntax analysis.
  • Examining and, if necessary, challenging Eurocentric syntactic models by presenting data-driven modifications based on Hindi.

I look forward to meaningful collaborations that advance research in these areas.