Pro in Arabic syntax : a theoretical study of its syntactic and semantic features with the help of x-bar syntax within Chomsky's (1981-1986) framework of government and binding theory
Other Title(s)
الفاعل المستتر في النحو العربي : دراسة نظرية لخصائصه النحوية و الدلالية استنادا إلى نظرية تشومسكي النحوية (1981-1986) الإكس بار ضمن إطار نظرية العامل و الربط
Dissertant
Thesis advisor
Comitee Members
Abd al-Haqq, Fawwaz Muhammad
Husayn, Riyad Fayiz Isa
University
Middle East University
Faculty
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of English
University Country
Jordan
Degree
Master
Degree Date
2010
English Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the syntactic and semantic properties of the empty category pro in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) syntax with reference to Chomsky‟s (1981, 1982 and 1986) universal views on Government and Binding Theory and Jalabneh‟s (1992 and 2007) Verb -movement which was applied to Arabic syntax to account for such properties.
This study aimed at answering the following questions: 1.
What syntactic features might pro have? i) Is pro governed by a governor? ii) Does it have a case? If yes what is it? iii) Does it fulfill the requirement of Extended Projection Principle at all levels of syntax? iv) Are there special markers attached to the verb that syntactically indicate the number, person and gender of pro? v.
Can pro be replaced by expletives in Arabic syntax? vi.
Is the deletion of pro optional or compulsory in Arabic syntax? 2.
What semantic features does it have in Arabic syntax? i) Does it have theta roles? If yes, what are they? ii) At what level is a theta role assigned to pro? The researcher used (68) sentences as the sample of the study.
Nine of them were taken from modern syntactic Arabic books which were written by Wright (1984), Alghalayini (2006), Maghalsih (2007) and Alfakhuri (N.
D.).
The rest of the sentences were formed by the researcher, and they were checked by an Arab linguist.
To analyze both properties of pro, the researcher adopted the theory of Verb-movement and dealt with Arabic as subject- verb- object (SVO) at the deep structure (D-structure) but VSO at the logical form (LF) for better government of pro because the meaning does not change.
Thus, the sentences were analyzed in forms of tree diagrams using the sub-theory of X-bar syntax.
The results revealed that (i) pro is properly governed by inflection (INFL) under inflectional phrase (I”) since it is the subject of a finite clause; (ii) pro is assigned the nominative case from its governor INFL at the surface structure in all finite clauses, namely, present, past, imperative and in subordinate clauses; (iii) pro fulfills the requirement of the extended projection principle at all levels of syntax in Arabic syntax as a pro- drop language; (iv) there are certain Agrs markers attached to the verb in Arabic syntax that indicate the type of pro; the markers are restricted to the tense of the verb used and they do not overlap; (v) the subject position of the weather- type verbs can not be replaced by the expletives „it‟ and „there‟ as is the situation in non pro drop languages; However, in Arabic syntax, it is filled with pro as it has various referents.
This category pro is assigned not only the nominative case but also a theta role in such structures.
Such process made pro different from the expletives in the sense that they assign the nominative case only but not a theta role and (vi) pro must be dropped at the logical form because it is the property of Arabic as a pro drop language in such structures.
The results also answered the second question as follows: (i) pro is assigned a theta role under the government of the verb phrase (V”) as a requirement of theta theory.
It carries the theta role of agent, theme and experiencer in various situations, and it is clear that (ii) pro is assigned its theta roles at D-structure.
The researcher recommended other scholars to follow this kind of approach and apply it to other pro-drop languages to find out similarities and differences with Arabic.
Main Subjects
Languages & Comparative Literature
No. of Pages
136
Table of Contents
Table of contents.
Abstract.
Abstract in Arabic.
Chapter One : Introduction.
Chapter Two : Review of literature.
Chapter Three : Analysis and findings of pro.
Chapter Four : Conclusions and recommendations.
References.
American Psychological Association (APA)
al-Alamat, Hamid. (2010). Pro in Arabic syntax : a theoretical study of its syntactic and semantic features with the help of x-bar syntax within Chomsky's (1981-1986) framework of government and binding theory. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Middle East University, Jordan
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-692297
Modern Language Association (MLA)
al-Alamat, Hamid. Pro in Arabic syntax : a theoretical study of its syntactic and semantic features with the help of x-bar syntax within Chomsky's (1981-1986) framework of government and binding theory. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Middle East University. (2010).
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-692297
American Medical Association (AMA)
al-Alamat, Hamid. (2010). Pro in Arabic syntax : a theoretical study of its syntactic and semantic features with the help of x-bar syntax within Chomsky's (1981-1986) framework of government and binding theory. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Middle East University, Jordan
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-692297
Language
English
Data Type
Arab Theses
Record ID
BIM-692297
