Multiple Copularization in Sogdian and Yaghnobi

The aim of this paper is to analyse the copula systems of Sogdian, an extinct Middle Iranian language, and Yaghnobi, a modern eastern Iranian language. It argues that Sogdian has one copula for the relations of existence, location, and possession, and develops three new, distinct copulas for identification and attribution. It also argues that the Yaghnobi system is similar, with a copula for existence and possession and two copulas for identification, attribution, and location. This paper suggests that the innovated Sogdian forms resulted from the combination of pronouns with the existential verb, with a possible distinction in their syntax based on the deixis of the copularizing pronouns. Finally, it shows that the large number of copula forms in Sogdian result from the re‐analysis of the copulas as verbal stems.