Research
Research Interests
My research is focused on various syntactic topics within Chomskyan
theoretical framework. I
have worked extensively on word order and scrambling, the interaction of the
syntax and discourse
(focus and topic), the syntax, semantics and morphology of complex predicate
constructions, and
complex DPs (including relative clauses), among some other topics. My
current research
includes control constructions, ellipsis, and the syntax and semantics of
complex predicates in
various Iranian languages.
Active Grants
PI, NSF grant: A descriptive and theoretical analysis of complex predicates
in Iranian
Languages. Co PIs: Heidi Harley, Andrew Carnie. July 1, 2015-December 31,
2018.
Publications
Books
Korn, Agnes, Geoffrey Haig, Simin Karimi, Pollett Samveilan (eds) (2011) Issues
in
Iranian Linguistics, Reichert
Publishers, Germany.
Lewis, Will, Simin Karimi, Heidi Harley, Scott Farrar (eds) (2009) Time
and Again:
Theoretical Perspectives and Formal
Linguistics. John Benjamins Publishing.
Karimi, Simin, Vida Samiian, Don Stilo (eds) (2008) Aspects of Iranian
Linguistics.
Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Karimi, Simin, Vida Samiian, Wendy Wilkins (eds) (2007) Clausal and
phrasal architecture:
syntactic derivation and interpretation.
John Benjamins Publishing.
Karimi, Simin (2005) A Minimalist Approach to Scrambling: Evidence from
Persian, Mouton
de Gruyter.
Karimi, Simin, (ed) (2003) Word Order and Scrambling, Blackwell
Publishing.
Journal Issue
Karimi, Simin, Guest Editor of a special issue on Complex Predicates for
the Journal Lingua,
2013.
Book Contracts
Barss, Andrew, Andrew Carnie, Heidi Harley, and Simin Karimi (contracted). Introduction
to
Minimalist Syntax. Oxford:
Blackwell (contracted publication). (textbook)
Articles (2000-2015)
Karimi, Simin and Michael Brame (2012) 'A Generalization Concerning the
EZAFE Construction in Persian. Linguistics
Analysis 38:11-143.
Karimi, Simin (2009) Review of Gema Chocano's Narrow Syntax and
Phonological Form.
John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2007, in
Language.
Karimi, Simin (2008) 'Scrambling', Language and Linguistics Compass (solicited)
Karimi, S. 'Raising and control in Persian,' (2008) In Aspects of
Iranian Linguistics,
S. Karimi, V. Samiian, and D. Stilo (eds).
Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Karimi, Simin & Azita Taleghani (2007) 'Wh-movement, interpretation, and
optionality in
Persian, In Karimi, S., V. Samiian, W.
Wilkins (eds). Clausal and phrasal
architecture: syntactic derivation and interpretation. PP 167-187.
John
Benjamins Publishing.
Folli, Raffaella; Heidi Harley, Simin Karimi (2005) 'Determinants of event
type in Persian
complex predicated,' Lingua 115:
1365-1401.
Karimi, Simin (2005) 'Farsi,' in The Fitzroy Dearborn Encyclopedia of
Linguistics. Chicago:
Fitzroy Dearborn. Solicited.
Karimi, Simin (2003a) 'Focus Movement and Uninterpretable Features,' in A.
Carnie, H. Harley,
and M. Willie (eds) Formal Approaches
to Function in Grammar. Festschrift
for Eloise Jelinek, John Benjamins Publishing. PP 291-306 solicited.
Karimi, Simin (2003b) 'Introduction,' in Karimi, S. (ed) Word Order and
Scrambling,
Blackwell Publishing. PP 91-125.
Karimi, Simin (2003c) 'Object Positions, Specificity and Scrambling,' in
Karimi, S. (ed)
Word Order and Scrambling, Blackwell
Publishing. PP 91-125.
Karimi, Simin (2001) 'Persian Complex DPs: How Mysterious Are They?' Canadian
Journal
of Linguistics 46:63-96.
Work in Progress
Book Proposal
Karimi, Simin Complex Predicates in Iranian Languages
Aricles
Invited: Karimi, S. 'Persian Syntax.' To appear in Anousha Sedighi and
Pouneh Shabani-Jadidi
(eds) Handbook of Iranian Linguistics,
Oxford University Press.
Karimi, S. 'Marked and Unmarked Object: DP or NP?' Paper to be presented at
the Societas
Linguistica Europaea, 2-5 September 2015,
Leiden, Netherlands.
Karimi, S, Greg Key and Deniz Tat 'Contrast in Focus: Persian and Turkish
focus
constructions,' under review.
Karimi, S, Ryan Smith 'The mystery of Persian --râ.' Submitted to a journal.
Sato, Yokuke and Simin Karimi 'Argument Ellipsis in Persian and Inhibitory
ɸ-Agreement.'
Under review.
Karimi, S. and Y. Sato 'Arbitrary Control.' In progress.
Karimi, S. and Azita Taleghani 'Does passive exist in Persian?' In progress.
Karimi, S. and J. Punske DP versus NP and Scrambling: A reply to Boskovic,
to be submitted
to a journal.
Invited Guest Editor
Karimi, Simin and Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini. Parameters: What are
they? Where are they?
For the journal Linguistic Analysis.
Expected publication: Fall 2016.