The origin of the Persian =e copula and related questions. Reflections on the development of copulas in New Persian and Gavruni

Abstract

In this article, various forms of both copulas and existential verbs in Middle and
New Iranian are discussed. The main focus throughout is the origin, development
and refections connected to the Iranian copula paradigm in *h-. This paradigm has
evolved in various ways depending on the dialect and chronological stage, and it is
argued that a form thereof is the origin of the Iranian New Persian 3sg copula -e,
whose origin is presented in detail at the end of the study. To reach this conclusion,
various forms of copulas and existential verbs in Early Judeo-Persian and other
Early New Persian dialects, but also in another Iranian language (Gavruni), are
analyzed.