Languages differ on their typology as wh-movement, wh-in situ or focus-fronting language. Persian seems to have mixed properties: wh-element seems to be in-situ but also displays optional wh-movement, and it also has an interrogative particle in yes/no questions. In this presentation, we showthat:
- Persian is a focus-fronting language: wh-phrases move to Focus Phrase
- There are two FP positions in Persian: one within the vP and one in the CP
- These different structural positions correspond to distinct interpretations of Information Focus (FP in vP) and Identificational Focus (FP in CP)
- If a wh-phrase is a NP/NumP, it remains in the low FP position; if it is a DP (specific or D-linked) it moves to the higher FP position

This analysis straightforwardly captures the distinct interpretations previously observed for Persian by Karimi and Taleghani for wh-elements. We propose that the internal structure of the wh-phrase determines which structural FP position they occupy. We provide a uniform analysis for D-linked wh based on their DP structure.

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