Adjectival constructs in standard Arabic

Abstract EN

This study focuses on two constructs in Arabic; adjectival genitive constructs and adjectival constructs with a possession clitic.

They have been previously studied in Kremers (2003) and Fassi (1999); however, the distinction in between is not clear.

This study shows how they are syntactically different.

Following the spell out algorithm (Chomsky 2001), I show that only the adjectival genitive construct should be a spell-out domain.

Being a spell-out domain prevents accessing this domain after shipping it to interfaces.

Therefore, word insertion and optional number agreement are prevented in the construct that forms a spell-out domain, which is the adjectival genitive construct.