The Arabic verb : form and meaning in the vowel-lengthening patterns
The research presented in this dissertation adopts an empirical Saussurean structuralist approach to elucidating the true meaning of the verb patterns characterised formally by vowel lengthening in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The verbal system as a whole is examined in order to place the patterns of interest (III and VI) in context, the complexities of Arabic verbal morphology are explored and the challenges revealed by previous attempts to draw links between form and meaning are presented. An exhaustive dictionary survey is employed to provide quantifiable data to empirically test the largely accepted view that the vowel lengthening patterns have mutual/reciprocal meaning. Finding the traditional explanation inadequate and prone to too many exceptions, alternative commonalities of meaning are similarly investigated. Whilst confirming the detransitivising function of the ta- prefix which derives pattern VI from pattern III, analysis of valency data also precludes transitivity as a viable explanation for pattern III meaning compared with the base form. Examination of formally similar morphology in certain nouns leads to the intuitive possibility that vowel lengthening has aspectual meaning. A model of linguistic
Danks, Warwick
Morphology ; Semantics ; Aspect ; Transitivity ; Mutuality ; Reciprocity ; Valency ; Modern Standard Arabic ; Syntax ; Lexical exceptions ; Saussure ; Descriptive linguistics ; Structuralism ; Pattern III ; Pattern VI ; Atelicity ; PJ6145.D2 ; Arabic language--Verb ; Arabic language--Morphology ; Arabic language--Semantics ; Arabic language--Aspect ; Arabic language--Transitivity
The Arabic verb : form and meaning in the vowel-lengthening patterns. The research presented in this dissertation adopts an empirical Saussurean structuralist approach to elucidating the true meaning of the verb patterns characterised formally by vowel lengthening in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The verbal system as a whole is examined in order to place the patterns of interest (III and VI) in context, the complexities of Arabic verbal morphology are explored and the challenges revealed by previous attempts to draw links between form and meaning are presented. An exhaustive dictionary survey is employed to provide quantifiable data to empirically test the largely accepted view that the vowel lengthening patterns have mutual/reciprocal meaning. Finding the traditional explanation inadequate and prone to too many exceptions, alternative commonalities of meaning are similarly investigated. Whilst confirming the detransitivising function of the ta- prefix which derives pattern VI from pattern III, analysis of valency data also precludes transitivity as a viable explanation for pattern III meaning compared with the base form. Examination of formally similar morphology in certain nouns leads to the intuitive possibility that vowel lengthening has aspectual meaning. A model of linguistic
arabic verb_form mean vowel lengthening pattern present adopts empirical structuralist elucidate true meaning verb pattern characterise formally vowel modern_standard_arabic msa verbal system whole examine order_place pattern interest iii context complexity arabic verbal_morphology explore challenge reveal previous_attempt draw link form_meaning present exhaustive dictionary survey employ provide quantifiable data empirically test largely accept view vowel pattern mutual reciprocal meaning finding traditional explanation inadequate prone many exception alternative commonality mean similarly investigate whilst confirm function prefix derives pattern pattern iii analysis data also preclude transitivity viable explanation pattern iii meaning compare base form examination formally similar morphology certain nouns lead intuitive possibility vowel aspectual meaning model linguistic