Ali S. Ellafi

A Morphology-driven Syntax of Arabic Clauses: a Minimalist Account Ali S. Ellafi

This book examines the formal features of verbal predicates and their nominal arguments in Arabic clauses. Four types of constructions are examined in particular: simple two-place predicates, ditransitive three-place predicates, copular constructions and progressive constructions. In relation to these, the formal features that are examined include the so called "phi-features" [Person, Gender, Number], verbal TAM features [Tense, Aspect, Mood], and Case and Definiteness features [Case, Def] on nominals. The way these features interact with the possible word order variation permitted by each type of construction is accounted for in light of recent developments in Minimalist Syntax (Chomsky 1998, 1999, 2001). The title of the book reflects a change in the way that Chomskyan generative syntax is perceived: syntactic operations are driven by the need to check the morphological properties of words, suggesting therefore a bottom-up approach to grammar. The book is a recommended reading for students and researchers of syntactic theory and Arabic grammar alike.