Modality in Arabic: The Multiple Functions of the (Non)-Indicative Markers -ūn and b-
This paper explores the non-indicative modal meanings that the classical indicative plural inflection -ūn and the preverbal particle b- express in different varieties of Arabic. Moreover, it argues that these two forms allow the speaker to introduce a marked stance in specific grammatical contexts,...
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2022 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/287963 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/287963 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Modality Indicative Mood markers Arabic varieties Speaker’s stance Arabic language Arabic language--Dialects Linguistics http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85006306 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85006308 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85077222 |
| Sumario: | This paper explores the non-indicative modal meanings that the classical indicative plural inflection -ūn and the preverbal particle b- express in different varieties of Arabic. Moreover, it argues that these two forms allow the speaker to introduce a marked stance in specific grammatical contexts, where the choice of - ūn or b- clearly introduces a modal reading to the proposition. Taking a comparative approach to examine modality in Arabic, I build on examples taken from Classical Arabic (CLA), premodern non-standard written (NSW) documents, and modern dialects to analyze the modal behavior of - ūn and b-. Analysis of the data reveals the following: (1) preverbal b- is used to create rhetorical contrast, and (2) either - ¯un or b- can overtly signal authoritative expectations (and orders) and/or intention. These results suggest an interesting connection between the modal roles played by -ūn and b- across Arabic varieties and demonstrate the importance of NSW texts in tracing the historical development of modality in Arabic. |
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