The Arabic Verb
Form and meaning in the vowel-lengthening patterns
1st Edition
Published on 12. May 2011
XVIII, 281 pages
978-90-272-8695-6 (ISBN)
Description
The Arabic verbal system is, for most grammarians, the keystone of the language. Notable for the regularity of its patterns, it presents the linguist with an unparalleled opportunity to explore the Saussurean notion of the indivisible sign: form and meaning. Whilst Arabic forms are well-documented, the elucidation of the corresponding meanings has proved more challenging. Beginning with an examination of the verbal morphology of Modern Standard Arabic, including an evaluation of the significance of the consonantal root, this volume then concentrates on establishing the function of the vowel-lengthening verbal patterns (III and VI). It explores issues of mutuality and reciprocity, valency and transitivity, ultimately focusing on atelic lexical aspect as the unified meaning of these patterns. This study is rich in data and relies extensively upon contemporary examples (with transliteration and translation) to illustrate its arguments, adopting an empirical structuralist approach which is aimed both at general linguists and at specialist Arabists.
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Content
Preface
xi-xii
Notes on symbols, abbreviations and other conventions followed in examples
xiii-xvi
1. Introduction
1-13
2. Verbal morphology and the lexicon
15-38
3. Alternative morphologies
39-62
4. Understanding Arabic verbal semantics: Form and meaning
63-82
5. Evaluating the pattern III-pattern VI semantic relationship
83-102
6. Transitivity and valency
103-130
7. The pattern III template: From form to meaning
131-156
8. An aspectual model for Modern Standard Arabic
157-188
9. Aspectual categorisation of patterns III and VI
189-212
10. Inceptive aspect
213-236
11. The passive in patterns III and VI
237-246
12. Conclusions
247-256
Bibliography
257-264
Appendix I. Data tables
265
Appendix II. Semantic category labels
267-268
Appendix III. Native speaker questionnaire
269-273
Appendix IV. Passive participles in patterns III and VI
275
Name index
277-278
Subject index
279-281
xi-xii
Notes on symbols, abbreviations and other conventions followed in examples
xiii-xvi
1. Introduction
1-13
2. Verbal morphology and the lexicon
15-38
3. Alternative morphologies
39-62
4. Understanding Arabic verbal semantics: Form and meaning
63-82
5. Evaluating the pattern III-pattern VI semantic relationship
83-102
6. Transitivity and valency
103-130
7. The pattern III template: From form to meaning
131-156
8. An aspectual model for Modern Standard Arabic
157-188
9. Aspectual categorisation of patterns III and VI
189-212
10. Inceptive aspect
213-236
11. The passive in patterns III and VI
237-246
12. Conclusions
247-256
Bibliography
257-264
Appendix I. Data tables
265
Appendix II. Semantic category labels
267-268
Appendix III. Native speaker questionnaire
269-273
Appendix IV. Passive participles in patterns III and VI
275
Name index
277-278
Subject index
279-281
