Binomial expressions with reference to Du’aa as-Saba (the morning invocation)‎ by Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (AS)‎

Abstract EN

This paper deals with the linguistic phenomenon of ‘binomial expressions’.

These are expressions that involve two words belonging to the same word-class.

The linkage of the two members of any binomial expression is accomplished through the use of either a preposition or conjunction.

There is usually a semantic relation between these members of some sort.

The study comprises two sections.

The first presents a theoretical background of binomial expressions.

Views and opinions of scholars are cited with regard to their treatment of these expressions.

In this section, a short survey of the previous research on the topic is presented.

This theoretical background is then applied to the Arabic text of Du’aa as-Sabaḥ by Imam Ali bin Abi Ṭalib (PBUH).

Instances of binomials in this text are extracted and analyzed in terms of the ordering of occurrence of the members of the binomial expressions.

The previous and following discourse (linguistic context) are considered important in the analysis of the ordering.

The members of the binomials in the Du’aa are joined by the coordinator ( و) .They are predominantly nouns except for only one in which an adjective occurs.

Some of the binomials are resistant to reversibility because of religious or cultural constraints.