Some remarks on non-finite verbal forms in Old Persian

In research regarding the (morpho-)syntax of ancient Indo-European languages, Old Persian has been largely neglected. This was mainly because the corpus of this language is limited both qualitatively and quantitatively. Nevertheless, in recent years there has been a gradual increase in studies in this area, also thanks to the use of contemporary theoretical approaches combined with traditional methods based on precise textual analysis and/or on data from historical-comparative linguistics. Using a similar combined approach, the present study aims to (re-)analyze from a morphosyntactic perspective the Old Persian contexts with “controversial” non-finite verbal forms, also considering (where possible) Avestan comparable occurrences, as well as the Elamite and the (neo-)Babylonian versions of the Achaemenid inscriptions, in an attempt to verify which hypothesis is more plausible. In particular, the uses of the infinitive (formed with the suffix written <-t-n-i-y> read -tanai̯ or -tani), whose main function is deemed to express “purpose”, and the forms in -ata- (i.e. *-eto- or *-n̥t-o-) will be considered.