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Description:
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In light of recent generative minimalism, and comparative parametric theory
of language variation, the book investigates key features and parameters of
Arabic grammar. Part I addresses morpho-syntactic and semantic interfaces
in temporality, aspectuality, and actionality, including the
Past/Perfect/Perfective ambiguity akin to the very synthetic temporal
morphology, collocating time adverb construal, and interpretability of verbal
Number as pluractional. Part II is dedicated to nominal architecture, the
behaviour of bare nouns as true indefinites, the count/mass dichotomy (re-
examined in light of general, collective, and singulative DP properties), the
mirror image ordering of serialized adjectives, and N-to-D Move in synthetic
possession, proper names, and individuated vocatives. Part III examines the
role of CP in time and space anchoring, double access reading (in a DAR
language such as Arabic), sequence of tense (SOT), silent pronominal
categories in consistent null subject languages (including referential and
generic pro), and the interpretability of inflection. Semantic and formal
parameters are set out, within a mixed macro/micro-parametric model of
language variation. The book is of particular interest to students, researchers,
and teachers of Arabic, Semitic, comparative, typological, or general
linguistics.
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