Dickins, J (2013) Definiteness, genitives and two kinds of syntax in Standard Arabic. In: Kuty, R, Seeger, U and Talay, S, (eds.) Nicht nur mit Engelzungen: Beiträge zur semitischen Dialektologie. Festschrift fuer Werner Arnold zum 60. Geburtstag. Harrassowitz Verlag , 59 - 72. ISBN 3447069260
Abstract
This article deals with Standard Arabic – i.e. the variety of Arabic including Classical and Modern Standard Arabic, regarded as a single synchronic entity (ignoring historical developments, which are, for current purposes, irrelevant). It considers the relationship between the -n of nunation (tanwīn) and the definite article al- (plus allomorphic variants). Henceforth, I shall for brevity refer to the -n of nunation (tanwīn) as -n and the definite article al- as al-. I consider first the relationship between al- and -n in relation to (i) standard triptote nouns, (ii) diptote nouns, (iii) non-declinable nouns, and (iv) dual and sound plural nouns, concluding that -n is neither simply an indefinite marker, as sometimes claimed (e.g. HOLES 1995: 41; BADAWI, CARTER and GULLY 2004: 96), nor an absolute state marker, as also claimed (e.g. LYONS 1999; RETSÖ 1984–1986; 2010), but has something of both functions. I go on to consider al- and -n in relation to (i) pronoun suffixes, and (ii) genitive annexes. I use the following terminology: annexion-head meaning roughly the same as muḍāf (cf. BADAWI, CARTER and GULLY 2004: 131) in traditional Arabic terminology (also termable annexed term, e.g. WATSON 1993: 173, or genitive head in English), and annex (WATSON 1993: 173) meaning roughly the same as muḍāfilay-hi (cf. BADAWI, CARTER and GULLY 2004: 131) (also termable genitive modifier in English). I argue that -n, al-, pronoun suffixes and genitive annexes commute with one another (incorporating also recursive elements), to give one form of syntax. In the linguistic model underpinning this paper – extended axiomatic functionalism (DICKINS 1998; 2009) – this can be termed lexotactic. I also show, however, that these structures can be subject to a second, different, form of syntactic analysis, in extended axiomatic-functionalism termed delotactic.
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2013, Harrassowitz Verlag. Reproduced with permission from the publisher. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Languages Cultures & Societies (Leeds) > Arabic & Middle Eastern Studies (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 19 Nov 2014 11:16 |
Last Modified: | 04 Nov 2017 12:39 |
Published Version: | http://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/index.ahtml |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Harrassowitz Verlag |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:81520 |